FYLDE schools are cutting back on red tape and spending more on learning, a new report says.

Figures released this week by the Department of Education and Employment have revealed that schoolchildren in the area benefit more from increased spending on them and less on administration.

Pupils across the Fylde coast, and indeed the whole of Lancashire, were found to be better off when more resources are allocated to them rather than on increasing form-filling and red tape.

On average, £2,744 was spent on each pupil, placing Lancashire in one of the top three of Shire and "upper-tier" counties.

Chairman of Lancashire's Education and Cultural Services Committee, County Councillor Hazel Harding, said Lancashire was ranked in the top ten per cent of Local Education Authorities (LEAs) spending least on administration at around £35 per pupil.

Coun Harding said this figure was well within the government target figure of £65. She went on: "I am proud of our excellent results which clearly show our commitment to spending money on pupils rather than red tape.

"We are driving down the cost of administration and increasing the amount of money for school budgets."

Coun Harding said it was the second year the government has put the country's LEAs on test by publishing performance tables, adding: "I am confident we will meet even tougher targets next year."