MALVERN MP Harriett Baldwin has written to the headteacher and governors at Hanley Castle High School to offer her assistance over securing funding for school hall repairs.
She contacted the Church End school following reports funding was being sought for refurbishments to its hall which is used for formal events and classes.
The work will include buying new seating and blinds as well as new lighting, doors, flooring and room decoration.
Mrs Baldwin has written to headteacher Lindsey Cooke to offer help to secure funds to speed up the refurbishment project.
Over the last five years, the school has received capital investment totalling £1.7 million to fund new science classrooms and a brand new sixth form block and next year the school will get an extra 5.7 per cent of school funding to help with historic imbalances suffered by Worcestershire schools.
“I am sure some parents will want to fundraise towards this good cause at this excellent school,” said Mrs Baldwin.
I have been a strong supporter of our local schools and where requested, I have supported bids for capital funding to improve school buildings.
“We have seen millions of pounds spent across our local secondary schools with impressive new teaching blocks built at The Chase, Pershore High School, Tenbury High School and Hanley Castle High School in my constituency.
“I was sorry to see that the requests for funding to carry out refurbishment work have become sensationalised and politicised, and I was eager to make the point to the headteacher and her governors that I am happy to support a formal bid for funding from central Government sources.”
The MP has been a constant campaigner to redress the historical imbalance in the funding deal for county schools and praised the Government’s delivery of one of her key election pledges when the new formula was announced last year.
The new deal will see £1.3billion allocated to schools in England next year with the introduction of a minimum funding level and a cash increase for every school.
Each secondary school pupil will attract minimum funding of £4,800 and primary school pupils will attract at least £3,500.
Schools in West Worcestershire will get at least 0.7 per cent more money with schools getting, on average 3.2 per cent, and some schools getting as much as 9.1 per cent more following the new funding formula introduction.
However, Mrs Cooke told the Observer money would be still be tight in terms of revenue funding, something the school receives to pay for educational provisions for its students.
“Our funding for 2018/19 has not increased by 5.7 per cent – the uplift is just 2.89 per cent,” she said.
“In addition, we are concerned that there will be no extra funding to cover expected pay rises for both teaching and non-teaching staff.
“I know that Harriett is acutely aware of these pressures and that she will wish to continue to campaign with us for a better deal for the children of Worcestershire.”
