Education in Waltham Forest is getting a “grossly unfair” deal in recruiting and retaining quality teachers, a cabinet member has warned.

Cllr Mark Rusling, the council’s cabinet member for children, has written to education secretary Nicky Morgan to raise concerns about funding arrangements.

Being classed as an outer-London borough under the dedicated schools grant, Waltham Forest receives less funding than neighbouring boroughs for teacher pay allowances.

This means that teachers can get on average around £2,000 per annum more in neighbouring boroughs Haringey, Hackney and Newham.

Wages for teachers in outer-London boroughs fall between £25,623 to £35,823, whereas in inner-London boroughs, they are from £27,543 to £37,119 a year.

Cllr Rusling claims this makes it harder for schools to recruit and retain quality staff.

Last month, a Department for Education league table revealed that Waltham Forest primary schools were above average in the country for pupils making progress in reading, writing and maths.

A total of 81 per cent of the schools achieved the required level four pass at Key Stage 2, above the aveage of 79 per cent in England and the 65 per cent target set by the government.

Cllr Rusling said: “Our schools have made some fantastic achievements recently, including provisional GCSE results, and they are now above national averages in all phases. 

“However, the future success of the borough’s schools could be greatly enhanced if there were fair and adequate funding arrangements.

“At present, it is clearly an unequal system and grossly unfair on our hard-working young people and dedicated teachers as they deserve the best resources possible. 

“We firmly believe we could accelerate and sustain improvements in standards if our schools were more fairly funded.”