Schools in Dorset will be among the biggest winners for funding per pupil of all areas in the south west next year.

Provisional figures show more than £200 million will be divided between the county’s primary and secondary schools in 2020 – £10.1 million more than last year.

Education secretary Gavin Williamson said funding had been directed to the schools that most needed it.

“This government has announced the biggest funding boost for schools in a decade which will give every school more money for every child,” he said.

“I recognise the pressures schools have faced and want them and parents to be safe in the knowledge that all children can get the top quality education they deserve in classrooms across the country.”

According to the figures, schools in Dorset will receive £4,630 per pupil next year - the fourth highest amount in the south west. In contrast, schools in the Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch conurbation will get the third lowest amount per pupil of any area in England (£4,465).

Schools in the west and north of Dorset look likely to benefit the most from funding increases.

Thorncombe Primary School is set to receive a 31.32 per cent funding increase per pupil, the highest in Dorset, while Cheselbourne Village School is in line for a 25.51 per cent increase.

Five schools could receive the lowest increase of 1.84 per cent per pupil, including Dorset Studio School in Dorchester, Bovington Primary School and St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Swanage.

The East Midlands and the south west will get the highest national increase of five per cent. 

The Government has said the promised extra cash for schools fulfils Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s commitment to boost spending.

But while the investment has been welcomed, campaigners have warned it is not enough.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “The biggest increases are aimed at tackling the insufficiency of funding in the worst-funded schools and this is much needed.

“However, many other schools will receive only an inflationary increase and because school costs are rising above inflation this will necessitate further savings from budgets which are already extremely hard pressed.”