Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner has called on the Government to address the “chronic long-term underfunding” from which Cambridgeshire schools have long suffered in an education debate in the House of Commons last night (22 June).

The Government is currently considering the national funding formula for schools and the MP called for a long-term change that will correct once and for all the imbalance in Cambridgeshire’s school funding.

Despite a top-up last year, Cambridgeshire still languishes in the bottom 20 worst funded areas, receiving just £4261 per pupil compared to schools in the best funded areas which are given on average £6,297 per-pupil.

The MP went on to criticise the Government’s desire for “structural change” and its “attack on the morale of staff” rather than focussing on recruiting and retaining good teachers. He criticised the use of unqualified teachers who make up 7% of the teaching work force in Cambridge.

Commenting after the debate Mr Zeichner said: “The problem is not coasting schools, rather a Government that misdiagnoses the challenges facing education in Cambridge. It seems to me it is the Government that needs to be put in special measures.”