Lynn Gadd says a funding rise of at least 15% is needed

Lynn Gadd, of Copthall comprehensive in Barnet, north London, said even 10% would leave the situation "fairly tight", with 15% needed to make a real improvement.

She added: "Most of the secondary schools in this area are having to find ways of coping with a �400,000 funding shortfall.

"The government wasn't living in the real world when it came up with its funding plans last year. I'm not sure how this is going to improve things much."

'Still struggling'

Ms Gadd said it was not acceptable that schools had had to choose between funding long-term maintenance and day-to-day running costs.

She added: "Why has the government not just made a real increase across the board? Even if we had 10% more we would still be struggling.

"I'm not sure what's going to be in this year's Standards Fund or the capital fund. Hopefully there will be more.

"But, as it stands, we will be lucky to avoid a meltdown."

Earlier this year, Ms Gadd and nine of her fellow head teachers in Barnet said they would run up a deficit budget rather than lay off any staff because of a funding shortfall.

Ms Gadd said: "We don't know how even this extra money will be divided up.

'Salt in the wound'

"It would be unfair to give more to the schools who have spent all their budget and keep it from those who have not.

"What is clear, though, is that schools cannot keep having to scrimp and scrape for hundreds of thousands of pounds, like we have this year."

In Gloucestershire, one of the local authorities which has called for a "fairer" system of distribution of funding across England, the reaction was similarly pessimistic.

County council leader Peter Clarke said the announcement was "very disappointing and confirms that the lobbying must go on".

He added: "This was surely the chance to make sure all schools around the country are fairly funded, rather than perpetuating a funding regime where a pupil in East Sussex is worth �243 more per year than a Gloucestershire pupil.