Oral Answers to Questions

Stephen Phillips Excerpts

Monday 21st November 2011 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Phillips (Sleaford and North Hykeham) (Con)]

7. What steps he is taking to ensure adequate funding for rural primary schools.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Tim Loughton)]

The Government recognise the vital contribution made by rural primary schools to their communities. We believe that in many parts of the country, the current funding has not supported rural areas properly. Our recent consultation on reforming the funding system looked carefully at how small schools should be supported and we aim to consult further on more detailed proposals in the spring.

[Stephen Phillips]

It is a fact that small rural primary schools cost, on average, 50% more to fund. With vastly reduced resources, that is a huge challenge for local authorities. What precisely is my hon. Friend doing and going to do to support funding for such schools given their importance in constituencies such as mine?

[Tim Loughton]

My hon. and learned Friend makes a good point. The current methodology was inherited from the previous Government and the funding system is based on historical and out-of-date assessments of need. The system is illogical, unfair and opaque and that is why we have had the first phase of the consultation and will be taking its findings to face further, more detailed consultation and proposals will be made in the spring. I hope that he will contribute to that process on behalf of his schools.