This morning, Richard Benyon and West Berkshire Lead Member for Education, Councillor Irene Neill, met with senior officials at the Department for Education to discuss the funding of small, rural schools. The meeting follows concerns raised by governors concerning the impact of a national funding formula for schools.
Richard, Irene and senior departmental officials also held a brief discussion with the Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove MP.
Richard said, “We had a really good meeting. It was good to be discussing these matters with officials as they wrestle with mechanisms for implementing fair funding.”
He continued, “I attended a small rural West Berkshire primary school myself, and I feel very strongly that such schools should continue to thrive in our education system.”