SOUTH Dorset MP Richard Drax has welcomed extra school funding – but teachers remain sceptical. 

Responding to Education Secretary Justine Greening’s announcement of an additional £1.3 billion for schools funding over the next two years, Mr Drax thanked the minister.

He said: “Dorset has been historically underfunded for many years, so we are all extremely grateful for her announcement.”

The exact figure coming to the county has not been confirmed, but Mr Drax said the extra funding would mean a 3 per cent increase in basic funding to Dorset schoolchildren.

Bob Duffin, headteacher at Cheselbourne Village School said that although any increase would be welcome it would not resolve funding issues. 

“I’m holding my breath to see how it turns out. 

“If the increase is due to be 3 per cent then we have already lost over that through cuts so we would still be worse off,” he said.

He added that it was unclear where the money was coming from and he had concerns other areas may be hit.

“If it comes away from hot school meals then that is a real shame as they have been an asset,” he said.

The additional £1.3bn has been pitched as an increase above inflation in the core schools budget for 2018 and 2019.

Kevin Broadway, headteacher at All Saints School, Weymouth said the announcement was a step in the right direction but remained sceptical whether it would be enough. 

“Because we have had to cut back so significantly it’s a case of readdressing that balance instead of having a windfall. It’s been a tough few years financially so it’s about getting back on an even keel. 

“We have had to pare staffing down to an absolute minimum. We’ve had to cut back the number of teaching assistants and they are there to support the most vulnerable students,” he said.

Dorset is in the 40 lowest funded counties in the country with school receiving £4,908 per child in 2016 in comparison to areas such as Tower Hamlets which received £8,256.

Beaminster School headteacher, Keith Hales said the school had been cut to the bone and had to trim support staff to maintain frontline teachers.

Finance and Business Manager at Wey Valley School, Rob Cole said that although the school had managed to stay out of deficit it had been running on reserves from previous years. 

In response to the proposed funding, he added: “I’ll believe it when I see it.” 

Mr Drax was one of 111 MPs who backed the fairer schools funding campaign, which aimed to level funding to schools across the country. 

A spokesman from Dorset County Council said: “We are awaiting further information on the schools funding announcement from the Department for Education. Until we receive this we are unable to comment on what the effect will be for Dorset schools.”