SCHOOLS in Worcestershire face a funding crisis following a Government announcement it will not repeat this year's "transitional payment" of £1.35 million, an MP has claimed.

The announcement came in a written reply to Peter Luff, member for mid-Worcestershire, on funding arrangements in the move to a new Standard Spending Assessment formula for education.

Mr Luff condemned the statement by schools minister Stephen Timms as "a slap in the face" and said: "The one-off payment made just before the last election was nothing more than a bribe. Schools this year now face a real funding crisis - unless the county council puts up council tax sharply."

But he said if that happened, the shortfall could be even larger because, if the Government considered the increase too big, it could cut funding to the county.

The MP also criticised answers by education Minister Ivan Lewis to questions raised during a debate on future education funding in Worcestershire.

He said: "He completely failed to give any indication of how the new formula would work, or over what period it would be introduced. I have therefore tabled urgent written questions on these issues."

In January, Wyre Forest headteachers joined a lobby of ministers over the Standard Spending Assessment (SSA) formula which has seen the county repeatedly lose out to counties in the south east.

Under the SSA, secondary schools in shire counties receive an average of £3,156.83 per pupil compared with just £3,011.43 in Worcestershire, resulting in an overall loss of about £9 million a year.

Mr Lewis admitted the funding formula was unfair and said changes were being looked at. In the meantime, additional cash was being provided directly to schools, he added.

But Mr Luff said: "Unless the formula is genuinely fairer and unless it is introduced quickly, and not phased in over years, the discrimination against Worcestershire will carry on."