PRIME Minister David Cameron will take action to reform the current school funding formula, says Chippenham MP Michelle Donelan.

Wiltshire’s schools are some of the lowest funded in the country, 126th of 151, as a result of the current per pupil allowance calculated by formula.

In 2014, Wiltshire had a per-pupil funding of £4,213 compared to Nottingham at £5,309 and Islington at £6,229 and Ms Donelan, who is on the education select committee, believes progress is being made.

The issue has been raised numerous times by headteachers in Chippenham and Malmesbury.

“It is impossible to have a fair shot if children born in Wiltshire have less spent on them per head – that is simply wrong,” said Ms Donelan at the opening of the St Laurence School sixth form centre in Bradford on Avon on Friday.

“We are all paying our taxes across the country so everybody should be given equal opportunities regardless of where you are from. This is the time to pressurise the government to do this as soon as possible.

“I spoke to the Prime Minister about this matter two days ago (October 7) and he is fully aware of the problem and how passionately people and my constituents feel about this and he said something will be done during this term of parliament.

“My goal is to make sure this happens as soon as possible. Our secretary of state education, Nicky Morgan, said it is on top of the agenda, which is promising.

“However, to give shires like Wiltshire more money, you have to take it away from other schools and that isn’t popular.”

St Laurence School headteacher Fergus Stewart joined Jan Hatherall, headteacher at Hardenhuish School in Chippenham, and Neil Spurdell from Sheldon School in commending the work of Ms Donelan, the patron of the campaign which is run with the f40 Group, and her petition.

“I am really delighted that Michelle Donelan has taken up this cause. Wiltshire has missed out because of the funding formula that is based on very historic factors. It is really urgently in need of reform and I can’t emphasise that enough,” Mr Stewart said.

To sign the petition click here.