EDUCATION chiefs in Worcestershire were under fresh attack today for spending £4.6m meant for teachers.

The bulk of the cash is expected to be pumped into a controversial £6m revamp of the education system in Hagley.

Details of the cash transfer were revealed in a letter sent to Worcestershire County Council by Education Secretary Charles Clarke.

As we revealed yesterday, the letter questioned why £3.7m earmarked for individual schools has not yet been allocated.

But the letter, seen by the Evening News, also raised doubts about the decision to shift £4.6m from the schools budget to capital projects.

"Why, when central government capital funding is increasing significantly year on year, have you chosen to use revenue funds in this way and what is their purpose?" asked Mr Clarke in the letter.

"How was the local Schools Forum consulted and were their views taken on board? What evaluation did your authority make of the impact this would have on the devolved funding for schools?"

But councillors have defended the claims by saying that the £3.7m is to be allocated in September, when newly-qualified teachers have been appointed and when school numbers are known. Councillor Adrian Hardman, cabinet member for finance, said the accusations were beginning to "irritate" him.

'Spin and smear'

"To write to us and ask us to justify that £3.7m is frankly spin and smear," said Coun Hardman, who revealed last week that the council had spent 103 per cent of its education budget on schools.

"I'm getting irritated with this.

"Yes, we have put £4.6m towards the capital expenditure, but that was not out of our education budget.

"It is being taken out of the council tax. It was a topic of heated debate when we set the council tax. We had the option of delaying it until knowing the capital receipts, or going ahead with it."

Worcester MP, Mike Foster, who is a ministerial aide in the education department, said the issue of the £4.6m to Hagley was a serious matter.

"Everyday spending by our schools is being cut by £4.6m so that unnecessary structural changes can be made in leafy parts of the county," he said.

Change system

"Rather than refurbish crumbling school buildings, our local councillors have decided to change the system of education in Hagley.

"This will cost nearly £6m alone - for no real education benefit, but it does keep a few well-placed people happy.

"Worcester has some of the worst education attainment levels in the country - this is where the cash should be spent," he said.

The money is being used to change the structure of education in Hagley from a three-tier system to two tiers.