DEVON’S education chief has written to Prime Minister Theresa May urging her to take action over the proposed new national funding system – that local campaigners say could see scores of Devon schools lose out.

James McInnes from Devon County Council has signed a joint letter to Mrs May with colleagues from around the country who represent the lowest-funded education authorities in the campaign group f40.

The group says every child in Devon is still funded at £290 less than the national average.

And members believe the proposed new national funding system would see nearly two-thirds of Devon children in schools that would lose out even more.

In the letter, Mr McInnes says: ‘We believe it is absolutely right that the government has brought forward proposals for a national funding formula but the formula being proposed seems to be weighted more towards maintaining stability than achieving fairness.

‘We firmly believe that the formula proposals that have been presented fall short of what was expected, will not deliver fairness and that they need further work.

‘It is vital that the basic level of funding allocated to all schools is adequate for the school to staff and operate sufficiently.

‘This review of the school funding formula is a once in a generation opportunity to get things right.

‘It is vitally important that one injustice isn’t replaced with another.’