MORE than 80 teachers could lose their jobs after unions warned against the government’s new “fairer” school funding formula.

Figures released by the National Union of Teachers (NUT) say Hampshire is set to lose more than £51 million in education funding by 2019-20.

And in the Andover area the figure is set to be around £14,327 per pupil – the equivalent to about 83 teachers.

The same statistics show two schools are set to profit under the scheme: King’s Somborne Church of England Primary School and Wallop Primary School.

However, MP for North West Hampshire, Kit Malthouse, says the new plans are fair and questioned the NUT’s figures.

He said: “I have been engaged with the Government alongside a group of MPs representing rural constituencies since I was elected to get a fairer deal for rural schools.

“Thanks to these efforts the Government have acknowledged a problem that has existed for decades: that there is a postcode lottery on schools funding and that rural areas lose out.

“Like Hampshire County Council, I cautiously welcome the plans as overall NW Hampshire gets an increase in funding.

“But there are certainly winners and losers across the patch so all Hampshire MPs and the council are still in discussions with the Government.

“The NUT campaign is based on financial assumptions which are highly questionable and an acceptance that the current system, which favours urban areas, is somehow fair.

“It is not, and I am confident that the final proposals will represent a better distribution of funds across the country.”

Kevin Courtney, general secretary for the NUT, said: “The Government is keen at every turn to define its new funding formula as ‘fair funding’, but this is nonsense.

“It cannot be fair without new money.

“There is a gaping hole in the school budget and it is only set to