A COUNTY education chief has slammed the prospect of a £10,500 windfall for all secondary schools as requiring education to be delivered on the cheap, writes Melina Cannon.

County council director of education Julien Kramer said the cash, announced by Secretary of State for Education, Estelle Morris, last week, would not go far in improving Worcestershire youngsters' education and did not substitute a fairer funding settlement.

The minister announced the money would help each secondary school towards high achievement at Key Stages 2 and 3 and also outlined her picture for schools in the future.

This included fully utilising teaching assistants and other trained adults so teachers would be free to concentrate on planning lessons.

Mr Kramer also expressed concerns over the Government's plans to increase the role of teaching assistants in the classroom.