MORE money will be made available for struggling schools next year, a Government minister told the Evening Press today.

Schools minister David Miliband, who was visiting a York school, pledged to work with head teachers to improve the finances available both for school buildings and for running costs.

Mr Milliband, visited Huntington School where he spoke to head teacher Chris Bridge and was shown 30-year-old mobile classroom which the school is campaigning to replace.

Schools in York, North Yorkshire and East Yorkshire have been hit by the funding crisis caused by changes in the way the government fund schools as well as falling pupils numbers.

Many schools have used funding for building projects and other temporary measures to tide them over until next year and are now concerned about the funding situation in 2004/5. Mr Miliband told the Evening Press that the Government was committed to securing a reasonable increase per pupil in funding next year.

He said: "We recognise that some schools have faced difficulties and we are determined to work with schools and LEAs to make progress next year and the year after.

"We know that some schools have found it hard as the government has changed the way the standards funds have been distributed and we are looking again at the plans. "The Government is committed to securing a reasonable per pupil increase next year." Mr Miliband was shown around the mobile classrooms at Huntington School, which have been described as "shocking and scandalous" by Mr Bridge.

York LEA applied for Government funding, but the bid was turned down.

They are set to reapply for £2m worth of funding to go towards a £6m project, with the rest of the money coming from the school and LEA.

Mr Miliband said he was unable to talk specifically about Huntington's bid, but would be speaking to Mr Bridge about it.

He said: "The Government has a commitment that every secondary school pupil will benefit from increased capital funding."

York MP Hugh Bayley, who invited Mr Miliband to the city, said: "What I want him to understand is that this year's settlement was extremely tight. I want him to look at changing the funding formula so there is a smaller gap between the best and worst funded schools."

Updated: 10:16 Thursday, July 03, 2003