A BRIDPORT headteacher has labelled more government funding for schools "a real move forward" but has warned that problems still remain.

Education Secretary Justine Greening announced last week that an additional £1.3 billion will be provided for schools funding over the next two years, a move welcomed by West Dorset MP, Sir Oliver Letwin.

Sir Oliver said: "This is very good news.

"The intention is to ensure that, in line with the promise we made at the election, no school in West Dorset or elsewhere will have less cash as a result of introducing the new funding formula - so that the effect of the formula will be to produce only winners and no losers."

The exact figure coming to the county has not been confirmed, but it is thought the extra funding would mean a three per cent increase in basic funding to Dorset schoolchildren.

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

Kay Taylor, executive principal of the Minerva Learning Trust, made up of four schools in Bridport and Burton Bradstock, said the additional funding will not "solve the problem" of Dorset schools being underfunded.

She said: "We welcome the announcement from the government of more money into schools and the news that the new National Funding Formula is to go ahead.

"Schools in Dorset have been poorly funded in comparison to other schools around the country - we receive around £4,500 per GCSE student while others receive more than £8,000. Dorset schools also face significant cuts in SEN funding."

She added: "We have not seen all the details yet but the funding gap in schools is more than eight per cent and this increase seems to amount to around four per cent.

"So while this increase will relieve some of the pressure on schools, it will not solve the problem. However, the government is now listening to heads, teachers and parents and recognises the issue so that is a real move forward."

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.

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.”