Education: Mixed response over school improvement funding

Alistair Darling's £200 million funding to improve attainment in struggling schools has met a mixed response from educationalists.

Universities UK chief executive Diana Warwick welcomed the package, saying it would benefit higher education by raising aspirations in schools.

But the Association of School and College Leaders said extra money was "not enough" to help the schools which "genuinely need support". It called for a "clearer" approach from government to the problem.

Steve Sinnott of the National Union of Teachers also called for more spending, demanding state education receive the same funding as private schools by 2014 as a realistic target date.

The creation of a £30 million Enthuse Science fund received a more universally positive reaction and was described as "heartening" by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry.

Peter Cotgreave, director of public affairs at the Royal Society, said he hoped to see an increased number of specialist science teachers as a result while Ms Warwick described the development as "good news" for Britain's universities.

The improvement this would bring to UK skills levels was also positively received, as was Mr Darling's reaffirmation of a commitment to higher-level skills for three million adults by 2011.

"The focus must be on developing the economically valuable skills the UK needs to compete," the Confederation of British Industry's Richard Lambert commented.

"Today's announcement of additional funding for intermediate skills and adult apprenticeships is welcome, as employers' skills needs are often at these higher levels."