A NEW funding formula for schools has been welcomed by a Dorset MP.

Richard Drax, MP for South Dorset, said the 'fairer funding formula', announced last week by Secretary of State for Education Justine Greening, would help correct a deficit in national funding for Dorset.

"I have long supported fairer funding for schools," said Mr Drax.

"Dorset is one of the poorest-funded authorities in the country under the current system.

"Once these new proposals are implemented, starting in 2017-2018, children with similar characteristics, and similar needs, will attract similar levels of funding - regardless of where their family happens to live."

The government says its proposals, now subject to a consultation, will "tackle the historic postcode lottery in school funding"

National campaign group 'f40' said it "welcomed the overall proposals" put forward, however, chairman Ivan Ould said: "as is always the case, the devil will be in the details".