Schools in Wandsworth get a bigger share of the money designated for education than schools in most other London boroughs.
New Government figures show that Wandsworth uses just 12 per cent of funding to pay for educational services such as school transport, with the rest going straight to the schools.
In inner London, only Tower Hamlets passes on a higher proportion of cash, while more than 30 councils country-wide do not meet the Government's target of passing on 87 per cent of their education budgets to schools.
Councillor Malcolm Grimston, cabinet member for education, said: "It's all about putting the children first and making the money we have for education stretch as far possible.
"Our priority has always been to concentrate on getting money into schools where it can be spent directly on educating children.
"I am pleased that ministers recognise the success of councils such as Wandsworth in administering their budgets efficiently. Now they need to go one step further and loosen the controls for high-performing authorities.
"This would allow councils more scope for innovation while freeing civil servants to concentrate on those education departments which are not well managed."
July 12, 2002 10:30
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