Schools in Colchester which teach a large number of Army children should receive extra funding, the Government has been told.
Lib Dem Bob Russell is one of several MPs who represent military constituencies who have been keeping the pressure on the government, raising the matter in parliament yesterda
Rising demands on the military have led to high levels of pupil turnover and increases in the need for special services.
Yet schools in services-dominated towns receive no additional Whitehall help to pay for such services or compensate for funding lost because of unpredictable pupil numbers.
Last year Colchester schools lost pupils after 10 Transport Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps left town and instead of arriving in the town in the spring its replacement 7 Parachute Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery was sent to the war in Iraq.
The head of Alderman Blaxill School, Ian Poulter, who is also chariman of the Colchester branch of the National Association of Service Schools estimates the cash shortfall was worth £70,000 to the school.
Budgets are based on roll calls in January and the new pupils did not join the school until September.
Catch-up money is handed out later, but is never the full amount, said Mr Poulter.
Mr Russell warned that if military personnel did not think their children had a good deal at school it could force them to quit.
Published Friday January 9, 2004
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