SCHOOLS in Haringey could finally be awarded funding in line with neighbouring boroughs after years of being short-changed.

Under the current system, the borough is treated as outer London even though the challenges its schools face and its teachers pay are in line with the inner-city areas like Camden, Hackney and Islington.

It means each pupil in Haringey received £1,300 less in funding per pupil.

A campaign, set up by Haringey NUT, was backed by Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone, who raised the matter in parliament on several occasions.

In a response to a letter to the Government minister, education secretary Michael Gove assured her that the matter would be reviewed and a decision published this spring.

Mr Gove said: "The Schools White Paper commits the department to consulting on developing and introducing a clear, transparent and fairer national funding formula based on the needs of pupils.

"One of the factors to be included will be an area cost adjustment and the particular issue facing Haringey and five other local authorities will be considered."

Ms Featherstone said: "This is a real step forward for Haringey’s children, and for fair funding for our schools. I’ll be campaigning all out to make sure local people respond to the consultation later on in the spring."

She added: "Labour kept depriving our children of fair school funding. But thanks to the Liberal Democrats in Government, Haringey’s special case has at last been recognised."