THE funding gap between schools in Worcestershire and its neighbouring counties has deepened following the latest cash increases, Government figures have revealed.

Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff, who obtained the statistics, said the county was being left behind after Ministers released comparative figures for 1997/8 and 2004/5.

They show that, while Worcestershire's schools have received a 24 per cent rise in "real terms" funding per pupil during that period, Birmingham schools have had a 39 per cent increase.

The "real terms" funding per pupil - taking into account inflationary differences - was £2,760 in Worcestershire in 1997/8, rising to £3,440 in 2004/5.

At the same time, Birmingham schools have seen their grants rise from £3,020 to £4,190. The average shire county school has had a 30 per cent rise, from £2,780 to £3,610.

"This means that a 1,000-place secondary school in Birmingham that in 1997 would have got only £260,000 more than a similar school just across the border in Worcestershire, now gets £750,000 more - a staggering increase of £490,000," said Mr Luff.

"And the gap for a 100-place first or primary school will have grown from £26,000 to £75,000.

"These are huge sums that put Worcestershire schools at a real and growing disadvantage."

The figures are the first to compare this year's funding settlements to other counties across the last seven years.

The statistics give no details of the actual cash increases.

Mr Luff is urging Ministers to alter the funding formula, which means that Worcestershire does not receive funding increases at the same rate as many other counties.