FAIR funding campaigners are hoping an innovative formula that the LEA is investigating will offer cash-strapped Worcestershire schools a brighter future.

After years at the wrong end of funding tables - currently 32nd out of 34 shire counties - the Parents' Forum has backed a new system developed in East Ridings, Yorkshire.

The model is "activity-based" and cash per pupil depends on factors such as class sizes, costs of teaching and building maintenance, and the number of teaching assistants.

It does away with controversial add-ons, such as Area Cost Adjustment, which have been at the heart of parent protests at Westminster and meetings with Schools Minister, David Miliband, over recent years.

"Every time there is a change in class size, it affects the funding appropriately, giving you an accurate indication of what it costs to educate child A in school A," said Jonathan Pearsall, former parent governor representative and lead campaigner.

"I'm particularly excited because we can take this to the Government and say, 'here is a more equitable model for funding'."

"I believe this time we have got something which can't be argued against."

Representatives from Worcestershire County Council are now planning to visit East Ridings to examine the formula first hand.

The results will be revealed, along with a full explanation of how the model works, at a public meeting of the Parents' Forum, due to be held in January.

Worcester MP Mike Foster, a parliamentary aide in the Department of Education and Skills, cautiously welcomed the move.

"I haven't seen the details but any alternative formula that brings more cash into Worcestershire schools is clearly something that's got a lot going for it," he said.

"The funding formula comes to an end this year and alternatives that are educationally desirable and bring in more cash will go forward to be considered.

"But there will be many other formulas put forward by other LEAs at the same time."