The headteachers of Helston and Falmouth’s sixth-form colleges are among those calling for the support of Cornwall’s MPs to help students get “the education they deserve and that the country needs them to have.”

Falmouth School headteacher Brett Miners and Helston Community College executive head Donna Bryant are part of a 16-strong group of education leaders in Cornwall speaking of their “serious and long-standing concerns” about the funding for education of 16 to 19-year-olds.

In a letter, addressed to Truro and Falmouth MP Sarah Newton and West Cornwall’s MP Derek Thomas, along with MPs George Eustice, Steve Double, Scott Mann and Sheryll Murray, the headteachers and principals look for support in the run up to November’s Budget, saying that more than 10,000 students in the county are affected by the shortfalls.

The group, which also includes David Walrond, principal of Truro and Penwith College, writes: “While a national funding formula has been in place since 2013 for 16-19 education, the funding rates within the formula have been fixed since that time and have not been adjusted to account for inflationary pressures or cost increases.

“As a result, there is a wide and ever-growing gap between the funding made available to educate sixth formers and the actual cost of delivering a high quality curriculum.”

The heads said they would “welcome the opportunity” to meet with the county’s six MPs to discuss the matters further.

Leaders of seven school and college associations nationally, including the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders and the vice secretary of the National Union of Students (Further Education), have also written directly to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, urging him to support an increase in funding of £200 per sixth form student.

It is estimated that this would cost £244 million per year to implement, but Cornwall’s education leaders claimed this was “less than the money taken out of the 16 to 18 budget in recent years” and described it as a “first step to ensuring that young people have the education they deserve and that the country needs them to have.”

They urged Cornwall’s MPs to “write a similar letter” on their behalf to the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Education, Justine Greening, ahead of the Budget.

Helston's MP Derek Thomas said he had discussed the matter with Ms Bryant, and is planning on a further telephone conversation, as they cannot find an appropriate time for a face-to-face meeting. 

He said: "School funding is an issue we continue to press the department on and will do so until we have a fair and adequate allocation for west Cornwall schools. 

"I'm not planning to meet any heads that do not run schools in the constituency due to time restraints. During September I met with all but two of the secondary heads in the constituency."

Falmouth's MP Sarah Newton said she had scheduled a date to meet with the association of headteachers in Cornwall, and had written to the minister concerned asking him to respond to the points raised in the letter.

She said: "While of course it is important that our schools and colleges are fairly funded, I am pleased that as a result of a clear focus on improving life chances for all young people, more local children are now in good or outstanding schools than in 2010. 

"Thanks to the leadership at our local schools and colleges, the hard work of teachers and the support of the wider community more young people are experiencing a good education. 

"While there is no room for complacency I will continue to do everything I can to support our local schools and colleges."