MP welcomes news that rural schools funding crisis is averted

Following months of lobbying by Cumbrian MP Tim Farron, the Government have agreed to adjust the complicated funding formula for schools to prevent a funding crisis in Cumbria's rural schools.

Some of Cumbria's most valued small rural schools recently face threat of future closures following drastic cuts to funding proposed by Cumbria County Council following plans revealed last autumn by the Department for Education to shake up the funding system sparked an massive outcry among the county's head teachers, staff, unions and parents.

In efforts to prevent the horrendous impact this would have had on our local villages, where schools are often the heart of the community, Tim intervened and persuaded Liberal Democrat Education Minister, David Laws, to step in to prevent these cuts. David Laws, who is responsible for reviewing the Government's approach to school funding, acknowledged the unique rural nature of our county and agreed it would be the best place to base a study of the impact of the funding formula.

Tim is now calling for a bigger sum of money to go to Cumbria so that they can cope with the fact that they have a greater number of small rural schools.

Commenting Tim said: "The reason why it is difficult for Cumbria is we have more smaller schools than most other counties. The more smaller schools you have, the more money you have to take from the bigger schools.

"I'm glad that the review I pushed for has meant we have won concessions on the funding formula and that the County Council will now have to ensure they protect all our rural schools for the next couple of years. However I will continue to fight to protect the long term future of our schools and ensure the funding formula is changed to prevent crises like this happening again."