School funding system probe urged

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The Liberal Democrats called on the National Audit Office to look into the issue as they condemned the present system of distributing money.

Figures released to Parliament by ministers show large disparities in funding increases between different areas.

Examples include Labour-controlled Middlesbrough, where spending on schools has grown by 54% since 1997, from £3,136 to £4,837 per pupil.

In Conservative-controlled Bournemouth, meanwhile, spending has risen only 27%, from £3,147 to £3,991.

Liberal Democrat schools spokesman David Laws said: "It is notable that Labour controlled areas seem to have the biggest increases in funding, and this raises concerns about the fairness of the way in which cash is allocated. The funding of schools is crucial to the prospects for young people, and it must be fair.

"The existing system for funding schools needs a radical overhaul, as it is poorly understood and often illogical.

"The Government will no doubt claim that funding increases have been targeted on the less affluent areas, but there is a real problem of targeting the many deprived youngsters who do not live in areas which are classified as being disadvantaged."

He added that he would be writing to the National Audit Office asking them to look at the variation in funding increases across England.