To get more local people to respond to a consultation to end Haringey’s unfair school funding, Lynne Featherstone MP and local Liberal Democrats were yesterday out in force, speaking to parents outside Rhodes Avenue School in Alexandra ward.

The consultation, which ends on the 11^th October, is the second part of a review into school funding which has been welcomed by Liberal Democrats as it proposes a fairer funding system for all schools and specifically mentions “6 London authorities who are required to pay inner London weighing to teachers, whilst receiving outer London funding.” which includes Haringey.

The historical unfairness has resulted in Haringey’s schools getting £1500 per pupil less than the students at schools in neighbouring boroughs like Hackney. However if the new ‘combined approach’ was adopted as proposed in the consultation, this historic injustice would come to an end.

To get local parents to respond in force, Lynne Featherstone MP has contacted thousands of local residents and written to all head teachers in Hornsey and Wood Green, calling on them to spread the word.

To explain the current school funding situation to parents and ask them to do their bit, Alexandra Councillors Juliet Solomon and David Beacham, Children’s spokesperson Cllr Katherine Reece, and Lynne Featherstone MP were yesterday speaking to parents outside the Rhodes Avenue school.

Any local residents who want to respond should contact Lynne Featherstone’s office for more information on 020 8340 5459 or by emailing lynne@lynnefeatherstone.org

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“This is an historic opportunity to fight for an end to a long-standing unfairness. Our kids deserve the best, our schools deserve the best, and to get that they need fair funding.

“I was really pleased to get such a strong response from parents at the school gate, and I hope that we will now see a last minute surge in the number of responses from Haringey parents to the consultation.”

Councillor Katherine Reece, Liberal Democrat Children’s spokesperson adds:

“This is the opportunity for us to take a stand. The future of our children’s education is in all of our hands – it’s down to us to show the schools minister that Haringey parents care, and that this injustice must end now!

“If you haven’t done so already, please get in touch with Lynne’s office and respond to the consultation – we have until the 11th October.”