SWINDON'S education authority is among the 20 worst funded in the country, according to figures released by the Government.

The average amount of money spent per pupil is about £300 below the national level for each of the next three years.

The funding package works out at a rise of 13.4 per cent over the years until 2010, slightly above the national percentage, with each pupil's funding going from £3,597 this year to £3,775 in 2008, £3,913 in 2009 and £4,079 in 2010.

But as the authority is regularly listed below national average performances in various exam statistics, the town's schools continue to receive less money.

The budgets are assessed on various deprivation criteria, including the level of unemployment and number of children receiving free school meals in an area.

Compared with a national deprivation score of 12.1 per cent, Swindon comes in with 9.4 per cent.

However, the latest announcement is not linked to the £52.7m awarded to the borough last month, with specific spending targets in a range of areas such as extended schools and IT, the majority of which is to be spent in primary schools.

Swindon Council's lead member for education Coun Garry Perkins said: "We remain in the bottom 20 funded authorities in the country.

"We have been asking for more, and fairer, funding for years.

"Whether we are 17th or 18th worst funded, it means very little for our children. Multiply the difference in funding by every pupil and it really adds up, and that change is a lot of additional teachers' salaries paid.

"Yes, funding has increased over the years by percentages, but five per cent of one figure is different to five per cent of another one. And this means we don't seem to be getting nearer to some kind of fair system."

This is the first time school funding has been announced in a three-year block. Schools Minister Jim Knight said the funding deal would build on the Government's record investment of the last 10 years and help raise the standards of all children.

"We want maximum resources targeted at teaching and learning," he said.

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

"We are also supporting schools to run their finances even more effectively, so every pupil gets the opportunities they deserve and money can be freed up and reinvested in the education system."