HEADTEACHERS will unite in a campaign to get more money for pupils.

Led by the county's chief education officer, Bob Wolfson, headteachers and parents will unite in a protest against poorly-funded Wiltshire schools.

They will take their campaign to Downing Street this month.

For every primary school pupil Wiltshire County Council receives £2,023. In neighbouring Oxfordshire, the same pupil receives £107 more. Somerset receives an extra £15 and Hampshire £58 .

Mr Wolfson is leading a protest to confront the government on November 27. Parents, teachers and children will hand over a petition.

"Wiltshire is the eighth worst funded local education authority in the league table of 34 shire counties. Our budget has risen slightly over the last three years, but it is not keeping pace with what Wiltshire people expect and need," said Mr Wolfson.

Paul Berry, headteacher of The Grove Primary School, in Trowbridge, is on the finance committee for the primary heads forum. He said if Wiltshire students received the same funding as its neighbours there could be extra teaching staff, smaller class sizes, better quality books and in-class support for special needs pupils.

"It's a sad state of affairs that students in primary schools are disadvantaged compared to children throughout the rest of the country," said Mr Berry.

There are 370 pupils at The Grove School and if the county was at the level of its poorest neighbour, the school would be up to £6,000 better off every year.

"Just think how much we could raise the standards of education. Hopefully if people form a united group, it will have more influence with the government," said Mr Berry.

Teacher Mark Solomon from Colerne School will be taking six pupils to Downing Street in London to hand over a petition on November 27 which they hope will be signed by every headteacher in Wiltshire.

Headteacher at Colene, Anne Orme said it was important to understand why there was such concern.

"Why is it that central government gives more to some local education authorities than others?" she said.

"Why is it that the Standard Spending Assessment for Wiltshire is so much lower than others? "Is children's education in Wiltshire less important than in other counties?"

Mr Wolfson said: "Our surrounding counties fare better, even though teaching costs are the same and supporting our high number of small schools costs more."

Despite the low funding level, league tables published this week show the county's schools give the best value.