Former education secretary demands reversal to 'deeply unwelcoming' cuts to Sheffield school funding

Lord David Blunkett shows his support for the camapign

Lord Blunkett, who was MP for the Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough constituency for 28 years, felt it is important that the voices of children and their parents are heard in getting the cuts reversed.

Around 6,500 people have signed the petition launched by The Star and Sheffield Telegraph, with the backing of Sheffield Council, Learn Sheffield, the city’s six MPs, businesses, schools, community groups and individuals, calling on the Government to rethink its changes to school funding.

Staff at Sheffield school back campaign for fairer funding

An average sized primary school in Sheffield would receive £260,000 more, a secondary schools £822,000 more if its pupils were funded at the same rate as Manchester.

Teachers who have signed the petition have shared stories of being unable to afford text books and using their own money to buy stationary and other equipment.

Lord Blunkett said: "I wholeheartedly support The Star and Sheffield Telegraph’s campaign in seeking to reverse the deeply damaging cuts to our city schools and to the future prospects of our young people.

The Department for Education said the purpose of the new funding formula is to correct historic disparities in the funding system, which involves redistributing funding to historically underfunded areas.

To sign the petition click here.Remember to tweet a picture of yourself holding a poster with the hashtag #FairFundSheffieldSchools. Alternatively email [email protected] or write Sam Jackson, The Star, The Balance, Pinfold Street, S1 2GU