POLITICIANS from all parties will be urged to voice their concerns about a shake-up of school funding which the councillor in charge of education claims will lead to “significant” job losses in the district's schools.

Under the Government’s new National Funding Formula, Bradford will receive a similar amount of money as it does now, but with funds re-distributed between different “blocks”.

It will lead to a predicted £5.7 million loss in the Schools Block, which pays for primary and secondary schools, and a £2.4m loss in the Early Years Block. But there will be an £8.2m gain in the High Needs Block and a £200,000 gain in the new Central Schools Block.

The changes went out to consultation last year, but before a funding announcement was made in December there were fears that Bradford would be harder hit by the changes.

At a meeting of Bradford Council next week, education portfolio holder, Councillor Imran Khan, will put forward a motion calling for all councillors to ask the Government to reconsider the formula to account for the needs of “a large metropolitan district” like Bradford and rising costs facing schools.

He will also ask the five district MPs to “make their views known” to Education Secretary Justine Greening.

Cllr Khan's motion states: “We are greatly concerned it could have a major detrimental impact on the education of our children. The new formula could also result in significant job losses in Bradford schools.

“This is a cut in education spend in the district at a time when schools are just starting to turn round and improve their performance. This is a huge distraction from accelerating the performance in education that Bradford needs.”

Cllr Debbie Davies, the Conservative group's education spokesman, said: “I find this motion a bit odd. People have been saying Bradford doesn’t come out as bad as had been predicted with this formula.

“What will happen now is that we will get the same rates as other parts of the country.”

Cllr David Ward, the Lib Dem' education spokesman, said: “The response from Bradford in that consultation was very impressive. It was argued strongly and I think we did influence the Government’s final decision.

“I just fear that after all the lobbying that has already gone on this motion is a case of missing the bus.”

The Council meets on January 17 from 4pm at Bradford City Hall.

The new funding formula will also be discussed by the Bradford Schools Forum, made up of teachers from schools across the district, today.

MORE EDUCATION HEADLINES