HEADTEACHERS, parents and chairs of governors will be rejoicing this week after it was announced that schools in West Devon will receive extra funding.

Schools in West Devon have been campaigning for a long time to receive fairer funding for education as Devon schools are sixth from bottom of 152 education authorities for Government funding.

The Government announced last Thursday that schools in Devon will receive an additional £16.2-million of extra funding in 2015/16 — a rise of 4.5% and equates to £189 per pupil.

The money is part of a proposed £350-million boost to the most underfunded local authorities, with funding being allocated to local areas based on the actual characteristics of their pupils and schools, rather than simply on the basis of historic levels of spending.

School minister MP David Laws said in a statement: 'While this is only the start of the transition to fairer funding and eventually a national funding formula, it is the biggest step towards fairer schools funding in a decade.'

He went on to say that Devon will be one of 15 top gainers by percentage rise.

The news comes as a welcome to headteachers and chairs of governors who met with West Devon and Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox earlier this month at Mary Tavy and Brentor School to campaign to get fairer funding for education in Devon.

After the meeting on March 7, Nicky Pratten, headteacher at Mary Tavy and Brentor Primary School and chairman of the Tavistock Area Learning Community, said: 'It works out at £450 more we could be getting for each pupil — imagine if we had that in our budget, it could mean more members of staff, and better facilities and buildings.

'Headteachers and chairs of governors attended and were all saying it's wrong that our children are missing out.'

After hearing the Government announce-ment, Mr Cox said: 'The school funding system is a postcode lottery that results in pupils attracting very different levels of funding without good reason.

'In Devon this has historically led to pupils receiving almost £400 less per pupil, which is simply not enough, especially given the additional challenges faced by schools in rural areas such as transport.

'I have campaigned for many years to see this unfairness removed, and I am therefore extremely pleased by today's announcement.

'This is not only very good news for Torridge and West Devon, with its mix of coastal and rural schools, which traditionally have suffered from vastly less financial provision relative to the mean, it also represents a huge step towards removing the unfairness in the school funding system across England.'

Devon's education chief has welcomed the Government announce-ment.

Will Mumford, Devon's cabinet member for schools, said it was good news for children across the county.

He said: 'I am delighted that the Government is moving to address the historic unfair funding of Devon's schools.

'Devon is currently sixth from bottom of the league table of 152 local authorities for education funding.

'On these proposals we will be one of the biggest gainers with over £16-million more.

'We have fought a long campaign with our schools for fair treatment and that will continue.

'This is an important first step but we still need parity with schools in other parts of the country.

'I, and the Devon Association of Primary Heads, wrote to Michael Gove only last month urging him to act swiftly.

'Devon's schools already do an excellent job for our children with limited resources.

'This will enable them to compete on a more level playing field to do even better in the future.'