THE Government stands accused of a "calculated insult" after offering Worcestershire's cash-strapped headteachers a "toolkit" to help balance their books.

Schools Minister David Miliband unveiled a website for heads to check how other schools with similar budgets make ends meet - on the eve of a crucial announcement on education funding for next year.

The website also offers senior teachers help doing sums to calculate the effect of the minimum five per cent per pupil increase on their school.

Neil Morris, headteacher at Christopher Whitehead High School, in Bromwich Road, Worcester, said he was insulted by the toolkit.

"At this school I have a fantastic business manager who finds money where there isn't money and keeps us afloat by renting parts of the school to 40 different companies when we are not using it," he said.

"But we have a leaking roof and are in danger of running a deficit budget just because car-boot sales have stopped at the school - that's how borderline our finances are.

"To suggest that we should compare our money situation to schools in other areas is ridiculous.

"I am already going to lose an excellent deputy head to a Gloucestershire school because they can afford to pay him more. Worcestershire's schools need more money not advice."

And Tory MP Peter Luff joined Mr Morris in criticising the move.

He told the Evening News: "It is difficult to think of a more calculated insult to any Worcestershire headteacher.

"Years of relative poverty have forced them to become extremely ingenious with their budgets.

"They do not need lessons from David Miliband - what they need is a decent increase."

Mr Miliband defended the toolkit, saying it will give headteachers the opportunity to make the most informed decisions on budgets and plan confidently for the future.

"I recognise that the last few months have been difficult for schools," he said.

"I want to praise schools and local education authorities who have worked hard to address these difficulties."

Schools were due to discover how much they will get from Whitehall in a House of Commons statement later today.

Heads have been promised a minimum rise of five per cent, but insiders have hinted at an increase of six per cent - or £14m.

Worcestershire County Council's budget increased by £12m last year - but heads were still forced to axe teaching posts or plunge into the red.