West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has written to the Education Department raising local concerns about school funding. Harriett wrote to Education Secretary Nicky Morgan after meeting with local secondary school heads to discuss local budget concerns. Worcestershire is still one of the poorest funded counties in the country although the Government last year committed an extra £4.9 million to help bridge the gap. The head teachers from Pershore High School, The Chase Technology College and Hanley Castle High School all met with Harriett to discuss shortfalls in their budgets in coming years. Harriett said: “I have actively worked in Parliament for the last five years to try and secure a better funding deal for our local schools and we have made some steps towards sorting this problem with a £4.9 million additional pot. “I am grateful that the head teachers took the time to meet with me and raise their concerns and I have written to the Department and discussed this problem face-to-face with Education Secretary Nicky Morgan. “Each school has already taken steps to make the best of their budgets but they still get a much poorer settlement each year compared to similar sized schools in Birmingham. “I am pleased that the Prime Minister confirmed that a Conservative Government would protect the schools’ budget. “Standards and discipline in schools is an essential part of a long-term economic plan that teaches skills to young people so that they can fulfil their potential and get on in life.”