EDUCATION funding for Worcester schools has risen by more than £1,100 per pupil since 1997, according to new figures.

But critics say that Worcestershire schools are still losing out compared to the rest of the country.

Statistics obtained by Worcester MP Michael Foster show that funding per primary pupil in the city has increased 85 per cent from £1,366 in 1996/97 to £2,528 in 2004/05.

Secondary schools will receive £3,094 per pupil this year compared to £1,881 in the year Labour came to power - a 54 per cent rise.

Mr Foster, a Parliamentary aide in the Department for Education and Skills, said: "These new figures show the true picture of what is happening in our local schools.

"Recently we saw that primary school results had improved in a spectacular fashion between 1997 and 2004. We can now see what has helped schools deliver these results.

"With the extra cash, schools have invested in more teachers who are nowbetter paid, more teaching assistants and better teaching facilities.

"The improved results show what can be done when a Government is committed to driving up standards and is on the side of parents and pupils."

But figures released by schools Minister, David Miliband, in a Parliamentary written answer, show that Worcestershire is one of the worst funded counties in the country.

Out of 150 local education authorities, Worcestershire's receives the fourth worst settlement per primary pupil, at £2,358.

For secondary pupils, Worcestershire receives the ninth worst, at £3,012.

Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff said he was pleased with the extra funding for schools since 1997, but said the size of the increases gave urgency to calls for fairer funding for the county.

He said: "The irony is that at a time of large increases of funding that the matter of how it is distributed increases in importance.

"The battle for fairer funding for Worcestershire becomes more and more important because the bigger the increases of spending on education the bigger the gap grows."

Mr Luff said that Worcestershire's funding settlement would have been "much higher" if the county received what it should.

Mr Foster added: "Some parents will say that they want more spent on their local schools. I agree totally."