A REDDITCH parent governor has thrown down the gauntlet to Government officials after an independent report claimed the county was entitled to a top-up to its education grant.

The Blanchflower and Oswald Report into calculations on Area Cost Adjustment (ACA) showed other authorities which qualified for the extra cash - worth about £10 million - have lower scores than Worcestershire.

Campaigners, including Juliet Brunner, a parent governor at Matchborough First and Ipsley Middle schools, now want the Government to admit public services in the county should benefit from the money.

Two different Worcestershire delegations have travelled to Westminster to meet with ministers and argue the case for ACA.

Officers and members met local Government minister Phil Hope MP in September to state the technical case for Worcestershire, while the parent governor representatives organised a coachload of other concerned parents to meet schools minister David Millband in October.

Mrs Brunner said: "This just proves everything we've been saying all along and the Government must now listen.

"However, we've previously been told changes to funding won't be implemented until between 18 and 24 months and we find this unacceptable.

"We meet all criteria set out by the Government for receiving ACA, so why should we wait?

"Our children have been educationally discriminated against for long enough, we need to end it now."

Parents' plans to continue lobbying the Government include an updated petition and they have also contacted Worcestershire's MPs to enlist their support.

Redditch MP Jacqui Smith said: "I support the campaign for adjustments being made to the ACA so it properly reflects the position in Worcestershire compared to the rest of the country.

"I'm pleased there has been progress to close the gap over the last two years with other shire counties but I regret there is little recognition of the progress made in recent years."

Ms Smith added: "I'm also concerned that funding is fair within Worcestershire as well as for Worcestershire.

"I am not convinced Redditch is getting its fair share of funding from County Hall, given the trauma imposed on Redditch by the Redditch Review and the struggle that our schools face to raise standards."