CENTRAL Devon MP Mel Stride met with Schools Minister Nick Gibb on Monday, February 27, on the proposed new formula for calculating how much funding schools across the UK receive.

Small rural schools, accounting for the majority in Devon, are set to receive more money but larger primary schools and secondary schools could potentially lose out with cuts of around one per cent.

Mr Stride has met, spoken to or corresponded with 120 teachers, governors and parents in his constituency about the proposals, and has recently visited the three secondary schools in Central Devon including Queen Elizabeth’s in Crediton, and has also held discussions with Heads at a number of local primaries including Landscore Primary School, also in Crediton.

Speaking after his meeting with the minister, Mr Stride said: “The Government is right to look at the current national funding formula which for decades has left rural areas underfunded compared to urban centres.

“Although 12 of the 16 schools in the Mid Devon part of my constituency are set to benefit from 1.5 per cent to 2.5 per cent more funding, the larger schools could potentially lose out between 0.5 per cent and 1.3 per cent, and I know that this will be a challenge to absorb.

“The Minister listened carefully to the feedback I provided and I am cautiously optimistic that some changes may be possible to improve the funding for larger schools such as Queen Elizabeth’s, Landscore and Hayward’s.”

Mr Stride has been actively involved with the Fairer Funding for Devon Schools campaign for the best part of a decade, stemming back to before he became an MP in 2010.

The first in his family to go to university, Mr Stride believes strongly in the importance of education in aiding social mobility - his parents due to economic hardship left school at 15 and 14.

Alan Quick