HEAD teachers across York were today celebrating the education cash bonanza contained in Chancellor Gordon Brown's Comprehensive Spending Review.

An extra £13 billion is to be ploughed into the education budget from the start of the next financial year.

That means that secondary schools can look forward to receiving an extra £50,000 in next year's budget.

Primary schools will see another £10,000 per year over the review's three-year period.

The news was warmly welcomed by city head teachers who promised to direct the extra resources into providing better education for children.

But they gave a more cautious response to plans to establish "advanced" schools, which would have the power to take over failing establishments.

Estelle Morris, the Education Secretary, was outlining the plans to MPs at the House of Commons this afternoon.

John Harris, head teacher at Archbishop Holgate school, said: "We are constantly seeking new ways to improve the quality of teaching, learning and care at the school.

"We look forward to further details so that we can ensure those additional resources are used directly to benefit pupils' education and enlarge the opportunities open to them."

Steve Smith, head teacher at Fulford School, said: "The issue of advanced schools is something that needs very careful consideration.

"Running one school is pretty difficult, let alone running several. But the extra cash is certainly welcome. I would definitely applaud that."

And Becky White, head teacher at Bishopthorpe Infant School, said: "We welcome this cash news and look forward to seeing the details. It would mean that we would be able to bring in more teaching support assistants."

However, Vale of York Tory MP Anne McIntosh claimed the Government has failed to match spending with reform.

She said: "People deserve better than what they currently get. We want to stop children disrupting classes, cut hospital waiting lists and get police back on the streets fighting crime.

"I am very disappointed at the Government's failure to ensure that the extra funding announced will not simply be frittered away."

Updated: 15:22 Tuesday, July 16, 2002