After an eighteen month break, Wolgarston News hit the press again last Christmas, edited by Kerry Chick and her team of Year 13 colleagues. With final exams looming the job was handed over to us and at the beginning of the spring term we started putting this issue together. After several small but promising meetings we had a rough idea of what was happening throughout the school.  With music being something a lot of people are currently involved in, we made it our central theme. Many thanks to all those who have taken the time to write some excellent articles for us, however there is so much happening round school that we still need yet more contributors. It is excellent experience for people aiming at a career in media, a great addition to anyone's CV and also an opportunity to get your opinions and ideas into print. As well as writers we would appreciate the help of anyone interested in design, layout, IT skills, publicity or willing to help publish the final thing whilst keeping within our shoestring budget. Although challenging, it is a rewarding exercise and important in ensuring Wolgarston life remains visible in the community. We've put this issue together without any experience of our own and have learnt that much goes on behind the scenes and realise that for the Wolgarston News to be a successful school paper we need as many students to be involved as possible. So even if you are only half interested just come along to a meeting or talk to one of us and find out what involvement with the Wolgarston News is all about. 

Alys Cummings & Frances Griffiths

The Government promises commitment to 'education, education, education' so why does this not apply to schools in Staffordshire? Thanks to publicity given to the problem by schools in the area and local media such as Staffordshire  Newsletter, you will be aware that Staffordshire education funding is second lowest of all the 'Shire' counties. Funding for each Staffordshire secondary school pupil currently stands at £2761 per year  - this is £128 below the average county and £268 less than for a student in a Hertfordshire school.

Worrying as this is it would not be so serious if the Government recognized the problem and acted accordingly. This is not the case. Last month, deputy Prime Minister John Prescott announced that despite early proposals to make the funding distribution fairer, the current situation is now unlikely to change for at least the next three years as the government "do not expect to make further changes in the method of distribution." It therefore seems that the government's initial intentions of giving counties such as Staffordshire a fairer deal, have been swayed by extensive pressure from south-east and London boroughs who thought that they would stand to lose funding if changes were made.

Surely it is time that we asked our MP's to exert equal pressure on our behalf to ensure that we get fair treatment? Are our students really in need of less funding than those in Hertfordshire?

True, we are performing better than ever but our school's excellent performance does not mean that we do not need equal funding. Our success is a result of the hard work that staff and students alike are putting in to ensure our education does not suffer.  If Wolgarston is achieving at well above the National level in spite of our lack of funds then we could reach even greater heights if we were given the same chance as other secondary school pupils throughout the country. I can think of no reason why we should be deprived of this chance.

If you agree that the Staffordshire funding situation is unfair please write to one of the following people with your views:

Right Honourable David Blunkett
House of Commons
London
SW1 0AA

Honourable David Kidney,
House of Commons
London
SW1 OAA