An MP has accused the Government of treating children in West Sussex unfairly after it was revealed Brighton and Hove schools are in line to receive more funding than their county classmates.

Figures published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) show spending per pupil will rise by more than 12 per cent in all parts of Sussex over the next three years.

But while schools in Brighton and Hove will receive an average of £4,424 per pupil by 2010 - up from £3,936 this year - West Sussex's allocation will rise to just £4,186 per head, up from £3,711, leaving a gap of £238 per pupil.

In East Sussex average payments per pupil will rise from £3,831 to £4,313.

A spokesman for the DCSF said the allocations were calculated from a range of data including the number of free meals claimed.

This was so that extra funding could be targeted at poorer areas.

West Sussex's allocation, although lower than Brighton's, included a sum for "pockets of deprivation", he said.

But Peter Bottomley, Tory MP for West Worthing, said: "There is injustice in education funding, as there is in health and social services.

"Children in West Sussex should not be penalised in this way. Our children's education matters as much, whether in Brighton or West or East Sussex.

"The presumption should be that children need the same staff to pupil ratio and people should be able to achieve the same whatever their background."

David Lepper, Labour MP for Brighton Pavilion, welcomed the revenue settlement, which showed a year-on-year increase across the country of two per cent after inflation is taken into account.

He said: "I'm pleased that pupils in Brighton schools will be getting this extra funding next year.

"Our schools are improving all the time and this is going to help us even more."

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