Funding for school pupils in Oxfordshire will rise by more than 12 per cent over the next three years, the Government announced yesterday.

Figures released by the Department for Children, Schools and Families revealed that county schools will receive £4,182 per pupil by 2010 - up from £3,704 this year.

The department said the revenue settlement showed a national average year-on-year increase of two per cent after inflation.

Schools Minister Jim Knight said: "Today's settlement builds on the foundations of the last 10 years of record growth in school funding, and ensures that every school and local authority receives further increases in funding per pupil each year. We want maximum resources targeted at teaching and learning.

"That's why we are giving schools the financial stability to plan ahead with confidence, with the first-ever three year funding settlement.

"The settlement means we can continue to raise the educational achievement of all young people and narrow the gap in educational achievement between disadvantaged children and their peers."

Headteachers said that the increases were less generous than in the past, with some cutbacks in key areas.

John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said ministers needed to cut back on new initiatives to ease the pressure on school funds.