BROMSGROVE'S MP, Julie Kirkbride, is "outraged" that the funding gap for pupils in Worcestershire compared with other shire counties will get wider next year following the government's announcement of education spending last week.

She said the news is disappointing for county schools where headteachers have run a high profile campaign to plug the growing gap between spending per head on each child in Worcestershire, which is considerably lower than the cash spent on youngsters elsewhere.

According to last week's spending figures the gap between spending per child in high schools will grow by a further £17 and primary by £14 when compared with the English average.

This is on top of the fact that the gap is already wide with Worcestershire this year spending £2,346 on each primary school child and England on average spending £2,588, a gap of £242.

The difference, she says, becomes greater in secondary schools where each piupil in England has an average £302 more spent on their education than in Worcestershire.

She said: "I am outraged that after all the wam words from ministers that once more Bromsgrove children have been kicked in the teeth with a grossly unfair settlement for school spending,"

Cllr Dr George Lord (Con, Alvechurch) leader of the county council said the public has been misled over the funding.

"The increase has been reported as 6.1 percent but this does not take into account the £1.3m top up grant given last year which makes this year's increase just 5.4 per cent" he said.

Labour group leader Cllr Peter Pinfield (Droit. Town) commented: "The government has met us half way. It's not a bad settlement and will help us make our way up the league table ladder."

"However I don't believe we should stop lobbying."