A GOVERMENT eduction minister is set to visit Malmesbury after lobbying from two headteachers in the town.

Malmesbury School headteacher Tim Gilson and Malmesbury Primary School headteacher Stephen Heal met North Wiltshire MP James Gray and Nick Gibb, the Minister of State for School Standards in Westminster last Wednesday, to discuss the the National Funding Formula Review and the problems it creates.

The meeting was set up in light of a letter sent out by Mr Gilson to parents warning them about potential cutbacks in coming years following the change in how schools are funded.

“The parents of Malmesbury have been assiduous in lobbying me and I was glad to have the opportunity to pass on their concerns direct to the Minister responsible,” Mr Gray said.

“This Fair Funding Formula is a consultation which closes on March 22 with the Government response due in July. The two headteachers and I very much hope that the Minister will listen very carefully to the detailed points we made and that we may see some improvement in funding when it is announced.

"In answer to our invitation, the Minister expressed an interest in visiting the school and I hope to welcome him to Malmesbury very soon.”

Mr Gilson warned parents classes could increase and pupils could have fewer subject choices due to a reduction of resources and Mr Heal admitted those cuts could be replicated at the primary school too.

He said: "We are facing worse cutbacks than Malmesbury School. We lose 1.2 per cent of our budget in the new formula and we are already a highly efficient school and have little scope to cut back on our spending.

"The minister listened very well and he was interested to hear about the impact the formula proposals would have on schools like this. We are a school with very low levels of deprivation but we still have children with all sorts of educational needs.

"It was important that I talked to the Minister because I need to take this as far as I possibly can. I would say to parents that their concerns are being listened to and to thank them for their patience."