COUNCILLORS hope to improve County Durham's GCSE results by putting an extra £2m into education.

Durham County Council is tightening its belt after getting a disappointing grant from the Government, despite a shake-up in the funding system that was expected to benefit the Labour-run authority.

But it is using money it has saved to fund priority projects, such as trying to improve the county's comparatively poor exam results.

The money will go towards extra teaching sessions, out-of-school activities, learning support, books and materials.

The scheme is expected to be approved by the council tomorrow.

Two years ago, the council put extra money into improving Key Stage Three results and levels of attainment are now in line with the national average.

Now, the council hopes that GCSE pupils can improve on standards set by youngsters elsewhere in the country.

Council leader Ken Manton said: "The achievement of young people during their school years is crucial, not only to themselves and their future, but to the economic success and regeneration of County Durham if more jobs, and better-paid jobs, are to be created.''

Durham missed out on additional funding from the Government to help secondary schools in deprived areas because the money was targeted at inner cities and not rural areas.

Coun Manton said: "We are determined to provide as much additional funding as possible to our secondary schools to enable them to match the expectations and outcomes of other secondary schools and pupils elsewhere who receive this extra Government funding.

"I am confident that our overall performance at GCSE level will improve as a result.''

Coun Manton said the cabinet would look to make further funding available in next year's budget to help pupils with special educational needs remain in mainstream schools.

The council also plans to create a cash reserve to provide additional support for schools that need the council's help or intervention.

Coun Manton said: "Overall, we shall be spending millions more on education than the Government has allocated us and that reflects the council's priorities and aspirations for all its young people."