Swingeing cuts in Bradford schools have crippled plans to provide books and materials for pupils in the worst-hit classrooms, it was claimed today.

Many schools fear the extra money being pumped into education by the Government will not reach them.

Last year, cuts in school budgets left Marshfield First School in Little Horton with only £20 to spend on each pupil for classroom resources.

That's the equivalent of ten exercise books, five reading books, 12 pencils and a packet of crayons.

Criticism is now mounting in Bradford that Labour is targeting schools to honour its election pledge to reduce class sizes for five to seven-year-olds to 30 or less. But schools that adopted a deliberate policy of keeping down class sizes and opted for cuts in other areas will not be at the receiving end of the extra funds.

Marshfield headteacher Hilary Greaves said: "David Blunkett is making an admirable attempt to reduce class sizes. But many schools, like us, have made conscious decisions to keep them below 30 by switching cutbacks to other areas. Labour should be considering putting money into those schools as well so all schools can benefit."

Governor Chris Greaves said: "We are becoming increasingly concerned that we cannot manage to provide a good education within the budget made available to us.''

Councillor Eileen McNally, chairman of Bradford Council's schools' sub-committee, said: "When the dust has settled on the review, we will be seeing in Bradford a far easier situation for the years ahead."

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