More than £9 million was hoarded by schools across Bradford at the end of the last financial year, new figures show.

Information released by the Department for Children, Schools and Families revealed that at the end of March 2007 a total of £12.1 million of reserves was left over. But taking into account cash allocated for various projects or schemes, the overall bank balance stood at £9.24 million.

The Government said it regarded any surplus higher than eight per cent in a primary school and five per cent in a secondary school as "excessive." Latest figures show 35 primary schools in Bradford hoarded more than the eight per cent and five secondary schools had topped the five per cent mark.

Education Bradford said the record was better than both the Yorkshire and Humber and national average.

Alan Jarvis, Education Bradford's head of school funding, said: "The DCSF expects local authorities to use the mechanisms which they have to challenge schools to reduce surpluses.

"Bradford has done this for a number of years but is increasing the level of challenge. Schools which have been predicting that they will be above the five per cent/eight per cent limit at the 2007/08 year end have been required to submit their intended spending plans by a deadline of March 31, 2008, together with supporting documentation to show that governing body had put spending plans in place.

"They have been informed that failure to do this will result in excess balances being clawed back. Any such clawbacks would be recycled for distribution under the Funding Formula to other schools in Bradford."

Councils have the power to claw back excessive stockpiles. Last year ministers proposed a five per cent levy to be slapped on all positive balances. The plans were dropped after staunch opposition.

Nationally, £615m was sitting in school reserves across England - a total of 5.3 per cent of the entire budget.