A MOTHER of two from Wokingham is calling on the Government to provide more funding for the borough’s schools.
Annabel Yoxall, 46, from Emmbrook, said she was ‘shocked’ to discover that Wokingham’s schools are among the worst funded in the country.
Ms Yoxall has started an online petition calling for a fairer funding policy as Wokingham’s schools receive just £4,158 per pupil, while schools in Tower Hamlets, in London, receive £7,014 per pupil.
She said: “I heard about the low funding for Wokingham and decided to look into it further. I have been rather shocked and dismayed about the current situation.
“Campaigners have worked really hard in bringing about the fairer funding policy which is due to start being implemented next year. However, the general belief in the wider community is that although funding for some of the highest may be reduced, there is no guarantee of extra funding for the lowest funded.
“I am asking for increased funding for the lowest, redistribution if need be, to provide a genuinely fair system of fair education for all.”
Ms Yoxall, whose children currently attend Emmbrook Junior School, believes that the borough’s pupils are potentially missing out on quality education and opportunities.
She said: “It restricts our resources and therefore imposes limitations on the education of our children. Along with this, it also affects contracts and staffing levels.
“This has already been going on for a year with no sign of anything changing until next year, when possibly nothing will change for us anyway.”
The Forest School in Winnersh rose the issue in April last year with headteacher Mary Sandell claiming that the gap in funding could equate to around 40 teachers’ salaries.
She said at the time: “Although we are around £2 million worse off than other schools of the same size, we are expected to deliver the same quality of education on far less – not something that is reflected in the schools league tables. We are expected to perform miracles.”
At the time of going to press the petition had received more than 800 signatures. To add your name visit https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/119888.
