More money heading for Somerset's schools? (From Bridgwater Mercury)

More money heading for Somerset's schools?

7:00am Thursday 30th August 2012 in Bridgwater Area News By Michael Marsh

SCHOOLS in Somerset could be given more money after the Education Secretary Michael Gove agreed to use the county as a pilot to determine future funding strategies.

Linda Vijeh, chairman of the Somerset Schools Forum, is lobbying for extra cash for the county's schools and met with Mr Gove at Westminster to push forward her case.

Mrs Vijeh said: “Historically Somerset is amongst the poorest funded local authorities in the country.

“With the current round of consultations there is a real fear that Somerset will once again miss out. We felt it was important to get across our message loud and clear.”

The Education Secretary agreed to use Somerset as a pilot and admitted “he needs to give further thought” to funding in rural areas.

In a letter to the forum, he added: “As discussed at the meeting, my department is keen to work with Somerset (and potentially a selection of other authorities in similar circumstances), to review the 2013-14 arrangements and consider what those might look like in the longer term.”