West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has welcomed the confirmation that school funding will rise by four per cent – above the national average. Education Secretary Damian Hinds has written to Harriett confirming that per-pupil funding in Worcestershire is rising by £172 from 2018 to 2020 – an increase of four per cent, above the national average of 3.2 per cent. An extra £9.2 million is allocated on top of that to take account of extra factors such as population growth and building requirements, and Worcestershire schools will also receive £19.4 in pupil premium funding. The Department for Education has also confirmed that it will fund teachers’ pay rises – totaling £508 million – and it will also cover the costs of increased pension contributions. Worcestershire is also getting £2.5 million over the next two years for pupils with extra needs – nationally the extra funding will total £101.9 million. Harrriett commented: “I’ve had lengthy meetings with local teachers to talk about current funding challenges and I have been able to pass their messages back to the Department. “I am therefore delighted that the Secretary of State has been able to confirm this significantly improved funding deal as well as the good news about teachers’ pay and pension contributions. “Our schools do an amazing job and they have been very clear with me about the need to secure an improved funding deal as well as helping with the financial burden that comes with teachers’ pay and pension increases. “The work will continue to try and secure fairer funding over the long term but I hope teachers and parents are all reassured by this latest news.”