Tobias Ellwood today told the Minister of State for Schools, The Rt Hon Jacqui Smith MP, that unless urgent measures were taken to increase education funding for Bournemouth, the majority of local schools would soon be facing a financial crisis.

Since 1997 funding per pupil in Bournemouth has increased by just over £610, an increase of only 20%. This leaves local funding levels well behind the national average which has increased by 33%. In a league table of 150 LEAs Bournemouth has dropped a staggering 75 places in the last seven years. It is now one of the lowest funded parts of the country.

Conversely, LEAs such as Middlesbrough and Blackburn who received about the same level of funding per pupil in 1997 have seen their budgets increase by over 45%. This means schools in these LEAs of around 600 pupils are now receiving about £450,000 a year more than similar schools in Bournemouth.

After meeting with the Minister Tobias Ellwood said:

"It is not acceptable that teachers are being forced to buy text books out of their own salaries, send begging letters to parents to pay for school equipment or make staff redundancies in order to stay within budget. It is now impossible to find a school in Bournemouth which is not either heading for a funding crisis or is narrowly avoiding one by laying staff off or cutting back on basic educational equipment."

The Minister is now fully briefed as to the critical financial position Bournemouth is facing. Whilst she made no promises, the Minister did acknowledge that Bournemouth's position was serious. She stated that the present funding formula was to be replaced by a dedicated school grant which should result in an increase for Bournemouth LEA. A review of the new funding mechanism is planned for 2007 and Bournemouth schools will have an opportunity to comment at this stage.

Tobias Ellwood intends to work closely with head teachers to ensure the Minister is kept fully informed about the financial challenges being met by Bournemouth schools. He will be campaigning for increased funding levels and to keep local schools out of the red.