Ann Mullins: Concern over funding for new sixth form courses

Ann Mullins, head teacher of Highbury Fields School in Islington, said: "I like the fact that he's going to carry on direct funding for schools and do it until 2004 - it means I can plan for it.

"I'd like even more money coming direct to schools, as it isn't top-sliced, you don't have to bid for it, and it's not tied to specific things.

"It can go towards a number of things - extra teachers, classroom assistants, books, computers, building works, a really wide range.

"For example, I've got a courtyard I use for exam work, and I could put air conditioning in there because it gets very hot while the kids are doing their exams."

However, Mrs Mullins added that lack of funding for implementing the new sixth form courses, being introduced in September, was a big concern.

Chris Davis: No sour grapes

"The government is increasing the amount of pupils going on into higher education, and I'm quite happy about that, but there is a big gap in the area of sixth form education," she said.

"I may end up having to spend my direct funding on implementing the sixth form changes."

Mrs Mullins said schools also needed more cash to cover the costs of administering education maintenance allowances.

Chris Davis, head teacher of Queniborough Primary School in Leicestershire, said that overall, he was "delighted" with Mr Brown's announcement that more money was going to be spent on education.

But he expressed disappointment that more money was not being channelled into the primary sector.

"The money is heavily weighted in favour of secondary schools. A secondary school with fewer pupils than a large primary school is going to get �30,000 more.

Fulfilling dreams

"I would be far, far happier if the money was shared on a per pupil basis across the sectors - but I don't want to be 'sour grapes' about it.

"One point I would make is that the fact that we only know the extra payments are there for the next three years makes it difficult to spend the money on staffing.

"Because of employment law, any member of staff employed for more than a year has to be given a permanent contract. For us to be able to guarantee a job, the extra money would need to be guaranteed forever.

"However, we can thoroughly enjoy ourselves trying all the things we've only dreamed of before, such as upgrading the library and buying computers."

Mr Davis expressed concern about the government's shift of focus from primary to secondary education.

He said he was "very, very dubious" about national curriculum test result figures which showed large improvements in the primary sector.

"Standards have gone up, but I'm not sure they are as high as they would appear," he said.

Unions' reservations

Teaching unions gave the spending plans a broad welcome, but expressed some reservations.

John Dunford, general secretary of the Secondary Heads Association, said the increase in direct funding for schools was "obviously very welcome".

Nigel de Gruchy: "Support teachers over disruptive pupils"

But he said he was "disappointed" the government had introduced new targets for 14-year-olds, as it should be focusing on GCSEs.

Nigel de Gruchy, general secretary of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers congratulated the chancellor for the extra money, but warned the targets for 14-year-olds would not be met unless the government gave teachers more support dealing with disruptive pupils.

The Association of Teachers and Lecturers warned that teachers would judge Mr Brown's announcement by whether "real money" actually arrived in schools.

And Doug McAvoy, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, warned that if the extra money for education "like so much in the past, is simply a mirage, this government will pay the price at the ballot box."

The Association of Colleges said that further education funding would have to rise by a quarter over the next three years if the government's lifelong learning and other post-16 reforms were to become reality.