Teachers and business leaders back Sheffield schools fair funding fight

The fight for fairer funding for Sheffield schools has attracted further support from education and business leaders.
Caroline Woffenden, managing director of MK Public Relations and Ashlea McConnell, PR director, back the campaignCaroline Woffenden, managing director of MK Public Relations and Ashlea McConnell, PR director, back the campaign
Caroline Woffenden, managing director of MK Public Relations and Ashlea McConnell, PR director, back the campaign

More than 8,000 people have signed online petition launched by The Star and Sheffield Telegraph calling on the Government to redress to funding situation in Sheffield.

Staff at Ballifield Primary School, in Handsworth and company MK Public Relations have backed the campaign.

Staff at Ballifield Primary School show their support for the funding campaignStaff at Ballifield Primary School show their support for the funding campaign
Staff at Ballifield Primary School show their support for the funding campaign
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Managing director of MK Public Relations Caroline Woffenden said: 'It is well documented that good education has the power to change a life.

'Yet despite operating in a city that boasts world class universities; hosts worldwide headquarters; attracts international investment, and welcomes millions of visitors every year, Sheffield has the worst funded schools of any core city in the country.

'As a local community it is our business to challenge the government for a fairer deal.'

Headteachers have warned of a growing crisis in Sheffield which could see staff losing their jobs, class sizes increased and schools cutting down to four-and-a-half weeks.

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The Government's new national funding formula, aimed at redistributing funding to historically underfunded areas, helps the situation a little and will lead to an overall increase in funding for Sheffield by 2020/21.

But headteachers are struggling to balance their budgets over the next few years.

The Department for Education said that schools in the city will attract an increase in funding of 6.6 per cent - equivalent to £20.4 million - when the NFF is implemented in full by 2020/21.

To sign the petition visit the online fundraising campaign page.