Schools

The Chancellor gave schools and universities a boost on account, delivering small increases and promising more. As part of a £270million package, a typical secondary school will see the cash it receives direct from Whitehall, bypassing education authorities, rise from £98,500 last year to £114,000 this year; a primary school £33,750 to £39,300.

The package also includes £87 million to fund more inschool "sin bins" for disruptive pupils.

There was also a further £85 million for building repairs and £70 million for modernisation projects.

The package is intended as a down payment on investment in this summer's three-year spending review.

Far more is needed. Education secretary Estelle Morris wants £500 million for school discipline alone. More will be needed to reduce the workload of teachers.

David Hart, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: "The Budget is all promise and - so far - very little delivery.''