Mark Garnier, MP for Wyre Forest, took part in a Westminster Hall debate this week to discuss fairer funding for Education for Worcestershire. The debate, secured by Karen Lumley, MP for Redditch, spoke about the continued underfunding of the county's education. Worcestershire MPs have been calling for a change to the formula to increase per pupil funding for the county.
Mark has been championing Wyre Forest schools for some time and previously held a debate seeking funding to rebuild eleven schools in Wyre Forest. This was after the cancellation of the Building Schools for the Future programme (BSF). In the debate last week he said that the county has "hidden pockets of financial need" and an "appalling low educational grant".
Mark drew attention to the fact that Kidderminster's Baxter College, despite drawing its pupils from a ward rated in the bottom ten for social deprivation, still receives up to £3 million less per year than an equivalent school in Tower Hamlets. Mark said "the social issues do not justify such a massive discrepancy."
He went on to say "It is vital for us in Wyre Forest that we have investment in our schools locally" he concluded "If we continue being so unfair to Worcestershire's pupils, we will continue to lock some places into permanent under-achievement."
Other Worcestershire MPs who also contributed were Harriett Baldwin MP for West Worcestershire and Robin Walker MP for Worcester.