A survey of 33 English education authorities who replied to queries submitted locally by the National Union of Teachers suggests that school budgets have increased on average by 3.4% this year - whereas the government has allowed for an increase of 5.7%.

In four of the areas, the amount passed on has gone down. Two authorities are increasing schools' budgets by more than the government thinks they should.

The union has released the figures a day ahead of the announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, of what is expected to be significant extra money for education as a result of the government's comprehensive spending review. The arguments about whether that money is getting to classrooms will only intensify.

Last week, the government promised an overhaul of school funding to tackle the widely-varying amounts local authorities spend per pupil.

The picture is also not as clear cut as the union makes out because its figures do not take account of the actual amounts being spent. A local authority could cut schools' budgets but still be spending more than the government reckons it should be.

For example, according to the union, the extra resources allowed by the government in the East Riding of Yorkshire was 6.6%, but there was a decrease of 2.5% in the money passed on to school budgets.

Explaining this, the council's Director of Education, John Ginnever, said its schools budget had grown in absolute terms, but was 2.5% below what the authority felt was needed to fund rising pupil numbers and teachers' pay. He said it was still spending £4m more than its standard spending assessment - the amount the government said it should be spending on schools.

'Unclear system'

The union's General Secretary, Doug McAvoy said: "These figures show that government statements of intent do not always translate into increased provision in the classroom.

"Where the fault lies is virtually impossible to pinpoint in a system of funding which is not transparent. Until the funding mechanism is changed, governors, parents and teachers have a responsibility to monitor the spending intentions of local education authorities."

In two authorities, the extra amount going to schools this year exceeds the government's recommendation: South Gloucestershire's assessment was 6.8% but it is providing an extra 7.3%, and Swindon's assessment was 5.9% but it is funding an increase of 6.5%.

In five authorities schools got the rise the government intended, or very nearly so: Cornwall (4.6% against an assessment of 4.7%); Merton (4.8%); North East Lincolnshire (5.3%); West Sussex (5.4% against an assessment of 5.5%); Wirral (5.1%)

The Education Chairman of the Local Government Association, Graham Lane, said its own survey showed that all but 19 local authorities had passed on to schools all the extra money provided by the Government.