North Shropshire schools short-changed by £2,000

Schools in North Shropshire are being short-changed by more than £2,000 per pupil compared to the national average, new figures have revealed.

The shortfall has been highlighted by North Shropshire MP, Helen Morgan, who described the funding gap as “deeply unfair” and demanded urgent answers from the Government.

The new figures show that Shropshire schools will receive an average of £6,556 per pupil in 2026-27, compared with a national average of £8,580 per pupil.

Helen tabled a written Parliamentary Question on the issue, and in a separate intervention, challenged the Education Minister in Parliament, calling for more resources for schoolchildren in the north of the county.

North Shropshire MP, Helen Morgan, said: “These figures are shocking. Every child deserves the opportunity to fulfil their potential, but pupils in Shropshire are having to do this with one hand tied behind their back, while schools elsewhere receive thousands of pounds more per child.

“Ministers boast about increasing school funding, but the reality for families in North Shropshire is that our schools remain among the poorest funded in the country. When the national average is £8,580 per pupil and Shropshire receives £2,000 less, you’ve got to wonder - why are children here worth less in the eyes of the Government?”

In the 2025 financial year, education funding for school in North Shropshire also showed a disparity, receiving £6,460 per pupil, compared to a national average of £7,910.

Research highlighted by the Institute for Fiscal Studies has shown that greater investment in schools is linked to improved pupil attainment and better long-term outcomes for children, with the greatest impact seen among disadvantaged children.

Helen added: “The evidence is clear that investment in education means pupils achieve more, it raises aspirations and helps create better opportunities later in life. Yet year after year, children in North Shropshire are having those opportunities stifled and schools are expected to achieve more with far fewer resources.

“I have asked ministers to meet with me to discuss what additional support can be provided to schools in North Shropshire. Parents, teachers and pupils deserve to know why our area continues to be treated as the poor relation when it comes to education funding.”

Helen has long campaigned for fairer funding for rural communities and says the latest figures demonstrate that the gap between Shropshire and the rest of the country continues to grow.

In her response to Helen’s question, Education Minster Georgia Gould MP, agreed to meet to discuss concerns.