The headteachers of Wycombe’s grammar schools want more money for selective education.

In a joint letter from the Royal Grammar School, Wycombe High School and John Hampden Grammar School, headteachers urged parents to lobby their local Buckinghamshire County councillors for more funding.

The request comes after advisory body, the Schools Forum, recommended that 5 per cent extra funding is given to upper schools than selective schools.

The funding comes from the Department for Education for the year 2015/2016.

The forum, which consists of headteachers, governors and professional association representatives, has recommended to the county council that upper schools receive 11.6 per cent and selective schools 6.5 per cent.

However, the headteachers of Wycombe’s grammar schools are worried that the difference in funding will have an unfair impact on pupils in selective schools.

In a letter addressed to parents, RGS headteacher, Roy Page, wrote: “We are very concerned that this proposed disparity of funding in secondary schools within Bucks will seriously disadvantage children in selective schools.

“All children have their individual issues, challenges and aspirations which need to be supported by their school.

“All young people deserve and have a right to receive equality of funding to enable schools to deliver a full and appropriate academic and co-curricular programme.

“In our view this recommendation does not reflect the view of the majority of schools and will cause real financial issues in selective schools that will adversely affect the educational opportunities of children.”

However, the Wycombe Labour Party has challenged the view that giving grammar schools the same amount of funding as non-selective schools would be fairer.

David Williams, Wycombe Labour’s Parliamentary candidate, said: “It makes sense that the schools with the most needs receive the most money. It also makes sense for the schools which have the poorer results track record to get more money.

“We know that children with most needs are concentrated in upper schools and their track record is not as good as the grammar schools.

“I don’t think the principle of ‘every child should be funded equally’ is right. It is well understood that if you pretend all children are the same by giving the same amount of funding for each pupil, you actually end up with very unequal outcomes.

“So a funding differential, as recommended by the forum, is likely to reduce the attainment gap and inequality.

“The selective schools already have an economic advantage, with access to external funding and better facilities, and an educational advantage with a concentration of higher performers.”

Mr Page’s letter to parents ended: “This recommendation will be discussed at the Bucks County Council Cabinet meeting later this month.

“You have the opportunity to influence this decision by contacting the county councillors listed below and expressing your concerns. We urgently need your support.”

Mike Appleyard, Buckinghamshire County Council’s cabinet member for education, said: “[The Schools Forum has always been listened to and their recommendations implemented. We do not expect that to change too soon.

“What we can do is build strength into the forum with even greater transparency than currently, and even now we have a wide spread of support for this and the future of Schools Forum.”