Teachers and business leaders back Sheffield schools fair funding fight
More than 8,000 people have signed online petition launched by The Star and Sheffield Telegraph calling on the Government to redress to funding situation in Sheffield.
Staff at Ballifield Primary School, in Handsworth and company MK Public Relations have backed the campaign.
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Hide AdManaging director of MK Public Relations Caroline Woffenden said: 'It is well documented that good education has the power to change a life.
'Yet despite operating in a city that boasts world class universities; hosts worldwide headquarters; attracts international investment, and welcomes millions of visitors every year, Sheffield has the worst funded schools of any core city in the country.
'As a local community it is our business to challenge the government for a fairer deal.'
Headteachers have warned of a growing crisis in Sheffield which could see staff losing their jobs, class sizes increased and schools cutting down to four-and-a-half weeks.
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Hide AdThe Government's new national funding formula, aimed at redistributing funding to historically underfunded areas, helps the situation a little and will lead to an overall increase in funding for Sheffield by 2020/21.
But headteachers are struggling to balance their budgets over the next few years.
The Department for Education said that schools in the city will attract an increase in funding of 6.6 per cent - equivalent to £20.4 million - when the NFF is implemented in full by 2020/21.
To sign the petition visit the online fundraising campaign page.