Herefordshire receives £3,830.40 per pupil from
Central Government to educate our children.

That's £387.31 less than the national average & £3,772.98 less than the City of London.

In the national league table we rank a miserable 147 out of 149 for education funding.

Please show your support for this campaign using any of the following means:

Call Lucy Hurds on 07827 011611
Email Campaign@HandsUpForHerefordshire.org.uk
Text HandsUp plus your message to 80010 [..more]

Also tell your friends or anyone who will listen how badly Herefordshire children are being short-changed and ask them to lend support too.

Come back to this site often for more news.

12th January 2010

Campaign Takes School Funding Fight To Parliament.

The campaign to get fairer funding for Herefordshire’s schools has reached the highest level as ‘Hands up for Herefordshire’ makes its case to Minister for Schools, Vernon Coaker MP. The campaign, organised by local campaigner Lucy Hurds, has the support of Hereford MP Paul Keetch who set up the ministerial meeting.

With Herefordshire schools still the third worst-funded in the country, Paul Keetch MP and the campaigners will be making this point and showing the effects of this to Mr Coaker. Per pupil, the County receives £387.31 less than the national average & £3,772.98 less than the City of London. Lucy Hurds has been working to change this and supports the introduction of a ‘rural sparsity factor’ to the way education budgets are calculated. This would benefit rural counties such as ours, which have to deal with extra challenges because of the spread of our population.

With the latest review of school spending to finish early this year, the need for Herefordshire’s situation to be recognised has become urgent. The review, carried out by Pricewaterhouse Coopers, will make recommendations on how the current system is working and what should be changed.

Showing cross party support for Lucy Hurds’ campaign, Leominster’s Conservative MP Bill Wiggin accepted an invitation to attend the meeting, along with Herefordshire Council Chief Executive Chris Bull and representative Head teachers and governors from across the County.

“It’s a sign of just how important our schools are to the County and its communities,” said Lucy Hurds . “Our campaign’s aims are being backed by supporters of many political parties, as well as Herefordshire Council and schools from across the County. Those supporting 'Hands Up for Herefordshire' recognise that I want this campaign to avoid any party politics and have signed up in their hundreds - we are simply working to get the best for all of Herefordshire.”

Notes to Editors:
Hands Up For Herefordshire can be accessed via www.handsupforherefordshire.org.uk Facebook group: Hands up for Herefordshire or Text ‘HANDSUP’ to 80010.