Rob Plackett, deputy head, Eskdale secondary school, Whitby, North Yorkshire, said: “Whatever we get allocated, it is never ever enough. Most of it will go towards two or three extra teachers and pupils’ needs on a day-to-day basis. We are setting up a new computer suite with 16 consoles, buying more text books and getting extra resources for our special needs pupils. Our flat-roofed building dating from 1953 needs constant maintenance. We also need to prepare for an OFSTED inspection by building up resources and making improvements.”

Martin Saffery, headteacher, Briary primary school, Herne Bay, Kent, said: “We got pound;9,000 extra which went into the pot an has enabled us to maintain our home-grown reading support programme for key stage one.

“It is basically a daily support for pupils who need to gain confidence with reading and involves sessions with a parent who has been trained by our literacy co-ordinator.

“The money has also helped to finance the employment of an additional teacher so we have been able to create smaller classes and do away with the last mixed age class at school.”

Alan Yates, headteacher, Great Sankey High School, Warrington, said: “We are a big school and got pound;50,000. We spent pound;12,000 on an editing suite for the media department and we are refurbishing the science labs. We were able to make a full time appointment in our English department to help with the introduction of literacy next year at Key Stage 3. We also have a computer enhancement programme every year which we would normally spend pound;35,000 on ourselves but the windfall allowed us to bring a few things forward and completely refurbish a computer room which was on its last leg.”