WORCESTER’S MP was joined by parents and three school governors from across the county to discuss what response should be made to the Government’s consultation on the pupil premium.

The aim of that is to improve attainment by targeting tuition funding on low-achieving pupils from poor backgrounds.

Hopes for a more fundamental reform of the schools funding formula were also put forward at the meeting held in Staffordshire on Saturday.

The Worcester News previously reported how Worcestershire is ranked towards the bottom of a list of all councils for its pupil funding – it is ranked 140 out of a possible 150 and funding for each pupil is currently £350 below the national average.

At the executive meeting of the campaign for fairer funding, f40, MP Robin Walker joined councillors, governors and parents representing a wide range of counties.

In the last parliamentary term, Mr Walker championed the cause of fairer funding making it a key element of his maiden speech and tabling an Early Day Motion to support the f40 campaign.

Mr Walker, who will attend the f40 campaign’s meeting with the Schools Minister Michael Gove at the end of the month, said: “The campaign for fairer funding is beyond party politics, it is a campaign based on natural justice and getting a better deal for children.

“Worcestershire has had a raw deal for too long and I am determined to make progress on this issue.

“I support a pupil premium to get more money to the most deprived children everywhere but what was absolutely clear from the meeting is that there needs to be a fundamental reform of the funding formula.

“The f40 campaign has a huge amount of expertise on the issue and it is listened to by the government when it comes to funding because they are able to bring a detailed knowledge of the issues to the debate as well as their passion for reform.”