AMONGST the noise of the spending review was an announcement that is a huge step in the right direction in the campaign to get fair funding for Wiltshire schools.

The Chancellor’s commitment to introducing fair school funding almost certainly means more money for Wiltshire schools, enabling them to develop even more engaging curriculums, support good teachers, invest in more resources to support lessons and allow them to spend more on every pupil’s education.

A new funding formula will set a national rate that every school will receive for each pupil, with additional funding for those with extra needs.

Crucially, from 2017-18 onwards, the resources that schools and local authorities will receive will be based on pupil characteristics rather than historic political calculations.

The Department for Education will consult on the detail of the announcement in January. I will try to co-ordinate as many local responses to that consultation as possible.

The announcement signals an end to the current unfair system, which has lasted for decades and led to a situation where the ten best funded areas of England receive an average of £6,300 per pupil, while Wiltshire pupils receive more than £2,000 less.

Since my election in May, I have spoken in Parliament on this particular subject more than any other.

I am a patron of the Campaign for Fair Funding and earlier this year I organised a local petition for schools which attracted thousands of signatures from teachers, parents and pupils.

In October, I was one of 111 MPs who wrote to the Prime Minister to call for fairer funding to be introduced, and on Guy Fawkes night, I used a speech in Parliament to demand action as soon as possible, describing the current funding position as “ludicrous”.

Despite this week’s very welcome announcement, there is still more pressure to apply and I will present our petition calling for fair funding to the House of Commons next week.

We should all be delighted with the announcement which will end the postcode lottery that means children in Wiltshire lose out for no good reason. Thank you to all those who have taken time to contact me and support this vital campaign. It really has made a huge difference.

As always, the devil will be in the detail and we will need to see the full detail of the consultation, but in principle this represents a huge step forward and is a decision of lasting significance.