WORCESTERSHIRE'S education chief has criticised a Government cash injection for secondary schoolchildren.

Director of Education Julien Kramer says the Government package of £10,500 to every county secondary school, and earmarked for summer schools to boost English and maths standards, will not go far in improving education.

"We welcome the money and it will be very useful," he said. "But it doesn't substitute for a fairer funding settlement for our schools.

"Instead it requires us to deliver education on the cheap."

The Government cash boost will bring Worcestershire in line with over half of the country's secondary schools, and is targeted at Key Stages 2 and 3, specifically during the first year of secondary school.

Secretary of State for Education, Estelle Morris, announced the extra funding would stop youngsters "falling behind" during this transitional period.

Speaking at the New Heads conference in London earlier this week, Mrs Morris unveiled her vision of future schooling whereby the cash will be spent on funding summer schools for struggling children.

"Good literacy and numeracy skills are the foundation on which success is built, and it's essential children don't miss out on the first year of secondary school because their English and maths skills don't allow them to keep up with the rest of the class," she said.

Mrs Morris has also outlined proposals to provide more teaching assistants to enable teachers to concentrate on planning high-quality lessons.

But Mr Kramer believes the idea is misguided and will face further flak from everyone involved in education.

"This idea is ill-judged and not going to work," he said.

"Worcestershire has some great teaching assistants, but they are not teachers.

"Our parents want their children educated, not just looked after.

"There is no substitute for a good teacher and this will be opposed by head teachers, the unions, parents and by me."