SIR - I was one of the delegates of f40 who went to see Schools Minister Jim Knight about the funding situation of our county's schools. We are one of the lowest funded authorities in the country in terms of per pupil funding.

I went as a parent and was accompanied by a headteacher (Yorkshire), school governor and head of school forums (Gloucestershire), deputy corporate director of education (Staffordshire), chairman of f40 (Labour MP David Kidney, Stafford) and f40 secretariat, Doug Allen.

We put over a strong case to Mr Knight, who listened carefully to our proof-supported argument, the need for fair funding for the lowest funded authorities, as well as demonstrating to him the unfairness of the way the annual percentage increase is given. We felt the minister had listened carefully to our argument, and he promised to reply formally to f40. On the same day we put our case to the minister, Michael Foster just happened to put out a press release, part of which stated that our county's schools had received "a huge funding increase".

While Worcestershire children have had (on paper) a £920 increase since 1997, other authorities have had increases of up to £2,060 per pupil for the same period. Back in 1997, some schools received more per pupil funding than a Worcestershire child receives today. The funding gap between us and our neighbours has trebled in the last eight years alone. Surely, even Mr Foster can see that.

HELEN DONOVAN, Evesham.