IPSWICH schools are hundreds of thousands of pounds better off today after the government's education spend for Suffolk was announced.A teachers' union welcomed news that the amount spent on each pupil will rise above £4,000 by 2010.

IPSWICH schools are hundreds of thousands of pounds better off today after the government's education spend for Suffolk was announced.

A teachers' union welcomed news that the amount spent on each pupil will rise above £4,000 by 2010.

The revenue expenditure announcement shows that £3,591 will be spent on each Ipswich pupil in 2008, £3,763 the following year and £4,065 in 2010.

The increase per pupil of 13.2 per cent over three years follows a 34 per cent increase between 1997 and 2005.

Ipswich Labour MP Chris Mole said the settlement, covering all state schools in Suffolk, was good for pupils, teachers and parents.

“The first-ever three year funding settlement will give Ipswich's schools the ability to plan ahead and run their finances more effectively.

“All of Ipswich's young people are continuing to benefit.

“I particularly welcome funds that support increased personalised learning, which will help raise the educational achievement of all young people and narrow the gap in education between disadvantaged pupils and their peers”

Mr Mole said the increase meant more personalised learning, early intervention to prevent struggling children falling behind, the rolling out nationally of the Every Child a Reader and Every Child Counts schemes and targeted funding for pupils in disadvantaged areas.

Keith Anderson, Suffolk county secretary for union NASUWT, said any above-inflation increase should be welcomed but called for the spending to go to those most in need

“Hopefully that money will go directly on pupils and into the classroom,” he said.

“The government obviously views education as a priority, but money does need to go on disadvantaged areas especially.”

Rises in teachers' salaries may not match the figure of 13.2 per cent, Mr Anderson added.

Martin Goold, Suffolk NUT division secretary, said the increase should be welcomed but said that more money for which schools are bidding should be used to meet the demands of the new diplomas for 14 to 19-year-olds.

The government has announced capital investment plans which will see more than £122 million invested in Suffolk's schools between 2008 and 2011.

Part of it will be spent on a massive school rebuilding programme and helping provide pupils with state of the art classrooms and IT facilities.

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