THE head teacher of Burley Primary School has warned that a cash crisis looms for some schools unless more money is forthcoming from council and Government coffers.

Roy Pallas said some primary schools could be in the red to the tune of £175,000 a year after the school's reorganisation.

Head teachers of the new primary schools have told councillors that without extra cash the aims aims of the shake-up in education may be undermined. They presented their cases to members of Bradford Council's schools sub-committee.

"Bradford schools must have more money spent on them. The money must go directly to schools and we in primary schools feel we must receive our fair share," said Mr Pallas.

Speaking on behalf of the Bradford Primary Head teachers, Mr Pallas said the council must spend up to its Standard Spending Assessment -the Government guide to how much councils should spend on education.

Head teachers had been doing their sums with regard to staffing levels and likely budgets, he said.

Depending on the school's size, it could end up with a deficit of between £33,000 and £175,000.

"We as a group are very concerned. Even on a realistic minimum level of staffing, there would be a deficit of between £17,000 and £60,000," said Mr Pallas.

Education chairman Councillor Susanne Rooney said education spending had increased and would continue to do so.

"We put an extra £2m in last year, we are putting in an extra £2m this year and there will hopefully be an extra £2m the following year," she said.

Coun Rooney said: "We are bidding for extra cash from anything that moves."

She said it was unfair to argue that Bradford did not pass on enough money to schools.

Vital services such as those for children with special educational needs, or children with English as an additional language, were paid for out of central funds because that was the method historically preferred by teachers, she said.

Coun Rooney agreed that more money should be spent on education.

"I can assure you that I will continue to say that education needs more funding. The issue is where it is going to come from and how we are going to get it," she said.

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