SOUTH Somerset’s MP and the county council rejoiced last week after a new “fairer” school funding formula was announced.

The proposals were announced on Wednesday, December 14, and will see adjustments made to the way schools are funded nationwide, with rural schools and secondary education expected to benefit.

MP Marcus Fysh said he is delighted schools throughout South Somerset look set for more funds as a result of the formula changes.

Mr Fysh added: “I am thrilled, after all our lobbying, government is adjusting the formula for funding schools to make it fairer for more rural parts of the country like ours.

“This was a key ask I had of Government when I was elected and it is fantastic to see it being delivered.

“Pupil premium is being maintained and a substantial additional fund to be allocated locally is being created to address special needs, so even the primary schools with a more neutral formula adjustment will have ongoing other avenues for extra support.

“It’s brilliant that local secondary schools will get between 5.6 per cent and 9.3 per cent more funding than otherwise via the formula, reflecting our intention to improve educational outcomes as young people move towards the world of work and enable children to build on existing progress to achieve the great education they deserve.”

A spokesman for Somerset County Council said: “We have been campaigning for fairer funding for schools in rural counties like Somerset for a long time so we welcome proposals that would see the funding per pupil rise by 2.4 per cent.

“Our schools have historically been badly underfunded – we currently stand 122nd out of 151 other local authority areas in the funding league table – and if these proposals are followed through they will go some way to redressing the imbalance.”

Local primary schools that will benefit particularly from the adjustment include Buckland St Mary and Misterton with increases of around 20 per cent to be implemented by financial year 2019/20.

Haselbury Plucknett First School is set to receive 12 per cent more.

Marcus added: “I am proud to say the era of unfair and outdated school funding creating something of a postcode lottery for parents and children is coming to an end.”