SCHOOLS in west Cheshire will see a boost in funds from 2018 after councillors agreed to adopt the National Funding Formula (NFF).

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s cabinet voted to implement the new funding formula from 2018/19 at their meeting on Wednesday.

Lynn Gibbon, shadow cabinet member for education and skills, said the NFF was the biggest improvement to the school funding system for ‘decades’.

Cllr Gibbon said: “I’m delighted that schools across Cheshire West and Cheshire have taken the decision to adopt the National School Fund Formula from 2018/2019.

“This new approach is all about creating a system that funds schools according to the needs of their pupils rather than where they live and is at the heart of this Conservative government’s pledge to build a country that works for everyone.”

The NFF is designed to put an end to the historic postcode lottery that saw huge differences in funding between similar schools in different parts of the country.

Under the proposals, more than half of England’s schools will receive a cash boost in 2018-19.

Cllr Nicole Meardon, cabinet member for children and young people, called the decision to adopt the formula a ‘sensible one’, and carried the motion to adopt it during the meeting.

However, she said school will still be ‘significantly underfunded’ under the formula.

She said: “This is a fairer formula yes, it is fairer than what was before but schools in Cheshire West are still significantly underfunded compared to other schools.

“If you actually go and some of our schools you will see some of the pressure that are facing them.

“I think if we really want to give children the best start in life, and we really want to make sure that education is world class the Government do need to consider the amount of money they provide to our schools.”

Under the NFF, every school will see a minimum cash increase for of one per cent per pupil by 2019-20, with the most underfunded schools seeing rises of three per cent per pupil in 2018-19 and 2019-20

A £110,000 lump sum will be given to every school to help with fixed costs.

The core funding for schools and high needs will rise from almost £41 billion in 2017-18 to £42.4 billion in 2018-19. In 2019-20 it will rise again to £43.5 billion.