EDUCATION bosses are optimistic that a national shake-up of funding will help local schools.

They hope that councils will get a better deal following a Government review of the much-criticised funding formula.

Bury is among the f40 Group, which comprises the 40 lowest-funded education authorities in England.

Representatives recently met Stephen Byers, Secretary of State for transport, local government and the regions, and demanded that the new system be fairer.

The f40 Group said that Mr Byers accepted that changes were necessary. He told the group that forthcoming proposals, to be discussed between July and October, will be "of major significance" but emphasised that not every authority will get exactly what it wants.

Councillor Steve Perkins, executive member for lifelong learning, said: "For too many years, the funding system has been a postcode lottery with the amount of cash per pupil decided by where they live rather than on need or fairness.

"I draw a great deal of comfort from what the Secretary of State has said and I am confident that the impending change will be a victory for common sense and equality of funding for all pupils, no matter where they live."

Coun Perkins added: "I am also heartened to hear that the Secretary of State believes that changing the system is a 'personal challenge' which, if undertaken correctly, will make a 'fundamental difference' to many in the education system.

"That's exactly the sort of message councillors, headteachers, teachers, parents and pupils in the worst-funded areas want to hear."