Having been a school governor locally for many years and   having met with head teachers from across the constituency I am dismayed at the unfairness of the education funding system. Children in Somerset receive far less funding per pupil than in many other areas coming 135th out of 150 areas. The ten best funded areas get on average grants of £6,300 per pupil, the ten most poorly funded areas get  £4,200 per pupil and Somerset is not far off this at £4,343.44 per pupil.

I believe that the inconsistencies in funding for individual schools with similar characteristics are far too great with children with the same needs receiving very different levels of financial support depending on where they go to school. Teachers, staff and governors from Taunton to Wellington and Wiveliscombe do a fantastic job with limited resources but just imagine what they would be able to achieve if they were to receive the funding they deserve. 

With this in mind I’ve joined other MPs (cross party) to campaign for fairer funding for schools and to launch a petition that calls on the Government to consider a new approach to school funding using an alternative formula devised by our Fair School Funding campaign. 

As part of this campaign last week I invited head teachers or representatives from every school in the constituency to attend a meeting at Castle School, to gauge views, gather support and to launch my local petition.   

Sarah Watson Head teacher of the Castle School summed up the strength of feeling ‘For years we have been battling to secure a fairer system of funding for our schools and I am pleased that the issue is now receiving the attention it deserves. The parents of Taunton and Wellington want a fair deal for their children, based on need rather than where they happen to live.  I hope as many local people as possible will sign the petition so that our voice can be heard loud and clear’

Meetings have already been taking place with the Department of Education and I will be meeting with Ministers shortly to feedback views from Taunton Deane. The F40 group will present our petition to the Prime Minister himself in late autumn. The more support we have, the better and I would urge every teacher, parent, friend or family member to sign the petition.

Copies are available from my office on 01823 339 823 or from  katherinev.toone@parliament.uk . Only people who are Taunton Deane constituents should sign my particular petition and only original signatures are permitted. Please return the completed pages by 16th October. 

Let’s pull together for a better deal for all the students in Taunton Deane!