SCHOOLS can be confident that fairer funding will happen, says Worcester’s MP.

Robin Walker responded to accusations by headteachers that politicians had broken promises after Education secretary Justine Greening delayed plans to overhaul the way schools are funded until 2018/19.
Worcestershire schools have long argued that an outdated national funding formula means they receive less money than identical schools elsewhere.
A government consultation earlier this year had started the process of introducing a change to the formula in 2017 but now a second consultation will be held in September because the government says it wants to get the approach right.
Mr Walker said: “The critical thing is that there is a commitment to delivering fairer funding and it will happen during the lifetime of this government.
“I’m not going to say I’m pleased that it’s been put back by a year in terms of delivery but I think it’s important to recognise it’s a manifesto commitment.
“I know schools wanted it to be even sooner but equally I know there would be people unhappy if we had launched a consultation on the last day of term.”
He added it had been a long process, through different governments, to agree the formula needed reform.
Mr Walker said headteachers could take comfort and encouragement from the new education secretary’s support for the issue.
He added: “This government has included it in a manifesto commitment in 2015, that’s what we have guaranteed to deliver.
“That agreement is absolutely there and a lot of work has been done on this issue.
“They will be able to take comfort when the consultation starts in September.
“They will get a lot of detail.
“There is no way the government would start this second wave if it wasn’t going to be delivered. They should take reassurance from that and that it will be a big opportunity for them to have their say.”
He added: “I’m pushing for fairer funding as quickly as I can but it’s really important that it’s right when it does come through.”