A BID to increase funding for Cheshire schools has won the support of Winsford's MP.

MP Antoinette Sandbach lobbied the Secretary of State for Education, Damian Hinds on a visit to Cheshire with MPs David Rutley and Esther McVey and primary and secondary school headteachers from across the region.

The headteacher from Willow Wood Community Primary School in Winsford was among school leaders who met the minister.

Progress in school results and the ongoing financial pressures facing schools, including the continuing funding gap between urban and rural schools were raised.

Whilst the vast majority of Eddisbury primary and secondary schools are rated good or outstanding by Ofsted, they receive on average £1,758 less per pupil than schools in inner London.

Antoinette Sandbach MP said: “Whilst I welcome the improvements in funding to date, I have been clear that there still remains much to do, particularly in terms of the substantial imbalances in how much Cheshire schools receive compared to other parts of the country.

“I was pleased to have the opportunity to once again make the case for additional funding, supported by headteachers from the constituency and welcome the Secretary of State’s determination to secure additional funding in the upcoming spending review – a bid I will be loudly supporting.”

In 2018/19 and 2019/20, total funding will rise by £10.7 million in Cheshire West and Chester, up 5.5 per cent compared to 2017/18.

Under the national funding formula, Cheshire West and Chester is allocated £4,009 per primary pupil and £5,034 per secondary pupil.

By comparison, the national average is £4,155 per primary pupil and £5,403 per secondary pupil.

Mrs Sandbach's meeting with the Education Secretary follows her recent discussion with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss MP, where she pressed the case for increased school funding ahead of the forthcoming Spending Review.