A LOCAL authority has claimed that figures on education spending show it is giving schools good value for money.

Latest figures show North Yorkshire exceeded Government targets on passing on more cash to schools, and spending less on administration and support services.

The county council's education department handed over almost 84 per cent of its budget to schools, against the 80 per cent target set by the Government.

The remaining 16 per cent covers spending on children with special needs, improving schools and home to school transport, with administration costs taking up about one per cent of the total.

School budgets were increased by about ten per cent this financial year, beating the Government target of six per cent.

The authority spends £33 per pupil on administration, compared with a target of £65.

Education chairman John Dennis said it had been the county's policy to give priority to front-line services.

Details of the figures come after the county was given a glowing report from independent inspectors Ofsted on the way it ran education in North Yorkshire.

George Bateman, head of the education department's finance unit, said: "The figures confirmed the conclusions from the Ofsted inspection that North Yorkshire retains little of its budget for central services, delegates a higher proportion than most to schools and provides a greater autonomy for schools."