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I am 38, married, and live in Evesham, have 2 daughters aged 8 and 11, one at Primary (Evesham, Worcs), and one at High School (Alcester, Warwickshire).

I first became involved in the funding campaign, when I read (in the Journal), that Worcestershire school children are amongst the lowest funded children, re pupil per year school funding, in the country, and the lowest but one funded out of all the shires.
Up until then, I assumed (as many parents do!) that school funding was broadly the same across the country, as teaching costs are national, and resources cost the same anywhere.

I also work part time as a teaching assistant in an Evesham Primary School.

I have tracked the funding figs since New Labour came to office, and have proved that the gap between our own children and those of the national average and our neighbours has dramatically increased (in some cases trebled) since 1997.

I have lobbied my own MP, who has in turn enabled me to lobby Ministers at both the House of Commons and the Dfes, re the unfairness of the current funding situation, in trying to get the situation addressed.
I have also been invited to sit on the executive body of f40 as a parent (the organisation originally created by the lowest funded 40 authorities, who have joined forces to try and get the government to address the unfairness. F40 are in constant contact with the dfes, and are currently pushing for the current funding formula to be changed, to give more basic funding, less add ons, and an annual percentage increase that doesn't simply reward those who have most already, and penalise those who have least as time progresses.

I met with both Tony Blair and the previous Education Secretary (Ruth Kelly) in the run up to the last General Election.

I am determined to get the discrimination addressed!

f40 annual conference 24.3.07

I was at the f40 annual conference on Sat, in Gloucs. It was very positive.

6.7% increase for Worcs Schools

Yet again, the school funding gap widens:-