Small rural schools have higher costs and for decades have been underfunded compared to bigger, urban schools. Of course we need excellent facilities which are harder to provide to every small rural school but in rural areas our much loved local schools play a vital role and we need to do all we can to protect them where we can, and avoid children having to be bussed huge distances.

That’s why I’ve campaigned for the Fairer Funding Formula and for an increase in school funding and am delighted that the Prime Minister and Government have listened and announced a major increase in school funding with an average funding in 2020-21 of £4,623 per pupil in Mid Norfolk primary schools and £5,110 per pupil in Mid Norfolk secondary schools – with the total funding for all schools here in Mid Norfolk totalling £64,594,114.

I have included a copy of the letter from the Secretary of State, Gavin Williamson MP, as well as a link to the spreadsheet which shows the increases and figures for schools in Mid Norfolk. National funding formula tables for schools and high needs: 2020 to 2021