AN MP is fighting for fairer school funding for youngsters who have historically received less than other areas.

Rishi Sunak, MP for Richmond, has urged ministers in the Department for Education to ensure schools in North Yorkshire benefit from a permanent increase in Government funding.

Education authorities among the least fairly funded are represented by the f40 campaign group which has argued that the existing school funding model has no rationale and is unfair to pupils across the country.

Students in Bradford received more than £500 per pupil more in funding than children in North Yorkshire.

Last year the Government recognised the problem and invested an extra £390m in the least fairly funded education authorities for the school year 2015 to 2016, delivering £10m for schools across North Yorkshire, but there have no no announcements for the future.

Mr Sunak said: “I have met with ministers extensively to urge them to make this down payment to our local schools a permanent feature of funding plans, not just a one-off payment.

“I want our local students to have fairer education funding so they have the same opportunities as children elsewhere. The historic funding arrangements are widely recognised as being unfair, and need correcting.”

North Yorkshire County Council leader, Cllr Carl Les, welcomed Mr Sunak’s campaign.

He said: “Rishi has been banging the drum about this for months now and I’m glad he’s taking our case to Government ministers.

"My hope is that this additional funding is confirmed for the long-term and will benefit children across North Yorkshire.”