Lynne Featherstone

Local MP Lynne Featherstone has vowed to carry on the fight for a fair deal for Haringey's students after schools minister, Jim Knight, has refused residents' demands to scrap the school funding system that sees every Haringey pupil receive £1,183 less until 2011.

The Government's lack of action was confirmed yesterday in a face-to-face meeting between the Labour Minister and Ms Featherstone, where she put the case for fair funding.

Ms. Featherstone also presented a petition backed by 615 local residents who supported the campaign.

Commenting, Lynne Featherstone MP says:

"How the Government calculates Haringey schools funding bears little relation to the needs of our schools. Our teachers are rightly paid inner London wages, but the schools are being short-changed by around a thousand pounds a year for every pupil.

"This is not a problem that can be kicked into the long grass as part of another protracted review.It is clear from the level of support we have received that local parents and guardians want action now.

"I will continue to badger Jim Knight and Ed Balls at every turn to give our schools a fair funding deal."