PRIMARY and secondary schools throughout Hertfordshire could face a considerable decrease in government funding following the DfEE's decision to review its current formula for monetary allocation.

The DfEE's decision to carry out a review has sparked widespread concerns among local authorities and education establishments throughout Hertfordshire which as part of the South East fear it is set to suffer.

Through the formation of a monitoring body - the Education Funding Strategy Group - the DfEE plans within a short timescale to thoroughly research and investigate current levels of school funding with a view to improvement.

However, while terms of reference for the review have outlined the need to address the additional costs required in the South East for the employment and retention of teachers, the very obvious omission of the controversial Area Cost Adjustment (ACA) has raised concerns.

Area Cost Adjustment - the funds awarded by central government to education authorities in the South East designed to reflect the considerably higher cost of living - has come under continued criticism for a number of years by those not receiving it.

Schools in Hertfordshire currently receive around £54 million as a result of ACA and could therefore suffer at the hands of such a review should it justify its removal.

Last week Hertfordshire County Council launched its campaign to fight the feared cut back.

In its aim to ensure the DfEE review of school funding accurately reflects all of the higher costs faced by Hertfordshire schools, Hertfordshire County Council called upon all teachers, local governing bodies and Hertfordshire MP's for their support in writing to the Education minister demanding a fair and thorough review.

Hertfordshire County Council's Chief executive, Mr Bill Ogley, said: "It is very important that this review looks at the whole picture and is aware of the extra costs which education authorities like Hertfordshire have to contend with.

"One of our concerns is that this review will run to a very tight timetable. It is vital that we alert the government to the serious consequences of a hasty process and ensure that there is a full consultation and an understanding of the special needs of this area."

Mr Ogley, who has recently written to secretary of state, David Blunkett, also drew attention to a study conducted by Professor Elliott of Aberdeen University who found the ACA actually under-compensated authorities in the South East for the additional costs they face.

Factors to be considered by the Education Strategy Funding Group in its assessment of school funding will include: how funding for schools and LEA's can be separately identified, how a basic entitlement for each pupil be derived and presented and how funding should be distributed among schools locally.

Conclusions brought about by the review will be enforced by the next financial year.