The Conservative Government recognises that West Sussex is one of the areas that does not receive fair funding for its schools, and its manifesto last year gave a commitment to introduce a National Funding Formula to ensure fair funding in the future. The West Sussex Conservative MPs have lobbied hard for this particular change, which the previous Government failed to make despite strong efforts, and we are proud that it is to be finally delivered.
This is a major and fundamental reform which will affect our schools across the country and it is thus proper and wise that the Government should consult very carefully about the new formula, which is due to be introduced in the 2018-2019 academic year. We fully recognise that there are pressures on West Sussex school budgets in the meantime, and we have been very actively lobbying Ministers over the need for interim funding to help.
Immediately after the General Election Mid Sussex MP, Sir Nicholas Soames, asked the then Secretary of State for Education on the floor of the House if he may lead a delegation to meet with her to press the case for West Sussex. The West Sussex MPs subsequently met with the Secretary of State and the Childcare Minister in September 2015. In May 2016 the West Sussex MPs received a delegation of head teachers from West Sussex at the House of Commons to listen to their concerns.
At her very first appearance in the House of Commons as Education Secretary on the 21st July 2016, Rt Hon Justine Greening MP was urged by Horsham MP, Jeremy Quin, to consider transitional funding for all West Sussex schools.
We have subsequently arranged a meeting with the Minister for Schools on the 18th October and also with the Secretary of State on the 2nd November in order that we may further press our concerns and those of our constituents.
The West Sussex Members of Parliament are seeking a Parliamentary debate on this issue when the House returns and they will continue to push hard for transitional funding and for the successful introduction of the new national formula which will, not before time, make a real difference to our schools.
