Schools around Orpington will receive an additional £1.3 million funding boost in a bid to address what the area’s MP described as a “historic unfairness” between metropolitan and greater London.

Member for Orpington Gareth Bacon confirmed on Tuesday schools in his constituency would receive the extra funds, following calls for fairer funding earlier this year.

The disparity had seen funding for schools across London increase by 9.6 per cent in real terms from 2013/14 to 2019/20, while funding for Orpington’s schools fell by 1.2 per cent in the same period.

The £1.3 million boost, confirmed by Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson, will be a 3.5 per cent increase compared to last year and a 3.1 per cent increase per pupil in Orpington.

Mr Bacon, who also sits on the London Assembly and Bexley Council, welcomed the announcement.

“I am pleased Orpington’s schools will be getting their fair share from the Government’s National Funding Formula after I raised concerns with the Secretary of State for Education,” he said.

“Historically, the Government’s funding formula has favoured metropolitan areas, and Orpington has lost out. The £1.3 million funding boost will go a long way to addressing the imbalance of school funding across London and is a big step towards fairer funding for Orpington’s schools.”

Mr Bacon said the additional funding would ensure local children continue to receive an “excellent education” while it would also be a welcome boost as schools look to reopen fully in September.

“It’s more important than ever that we get fair school funding for Orpington so children can catch up after being out of the classroom for so long,” he added.