SCHOOLS in east Cheshire have made a case for improved funding after Fiona Bruce MP facilitated a meeting between headteachers and the government’s schools minister.

Mrs Bruce secured a meeting between a ten person delegation – including high school heads, fellow MPs and Cheshire East Council leader Rachel Bailey – and Nick Gibb MP in Westminster to discuss a recent announcement that schools in the borough are due to become the worst funded in the country.

New funding formulas, a consultation on which was launched in December, would see already low funding for schools including Middlewich High School drop further.

She said of the recent meeting: “The potential impact of these proposals … required immediate challenge to Government to go back to the drawing board and rethink them.

“The length of time the schools minister gave to the meeting – far longer than usual for a ministerial meeting – and the manner in which he listened intently and agreed to work further with local headteachers on essential pupil funding levels, shows that there is a case to answer for reviewing these proposals.

“The meeting was a constructive start to making a case on behalf of pupils and schools here in the Congleton constituency and wider east Cheshire area.”

Although Middlewich High School head Keith Simpson was unable to attend, Fiona added: “I made sure that the minister was aware that if these proposals go ahead they could put at risk the excellent work at Middlewich High on the Emotionally Healthy Schools Project.”

At £4,122 per head, a new funding formula for schools would see Cheshire East Council become the worst-funded local authority in Britain, falling short of the previous low of £4,158.

Cllr Rachel Bailey attended the meeting in Portcullis House and added: “We will work together with our local MPs and schools to ensure that the minister is provided with some practical solutions which will protect the current outstanding education and skills offer across east Cheshire.

“Our children and young people have a right to at least the same minimum national curriculum offer and opportunities which other similar schools and authorities will have the funding to provide.”

The ‘schools national funding formula’ consultation is open until March 22, and can be found online at consult.education.gov.uk.