THERE was a brand new venue for the annual awards evening at Woodhey High School.

Head teacher Mr Martin Braidley welcomed parents to the Frank Bennett Hall, and listed some memorable moments of the last 12 months. But he also attacked the lack of funding saying Woodhey could be among the worst funded schools in the country.

Outlining the year he said a high-profile event in January was the opening of the hall itself, by Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown, which followed a 21-year campaign to have the facility built.

The hall was named after the school's first headteacher, who was present on the night.

The efforts of young people who had worked hard to achieve an impressive set of GCSE results were commended, while parents, governors and staff were thanked for their contribution. But while while he acclaimed the level of success at Woodhey, Mr Braidley highlighted the problem of increasing class sizes.

He went on to describe Bury's funding for each pupil as "unacceptably low" compared with the national average.

In real terms, he said, Woodhey could be "among the worst funded schools in the country". It was his belief that that schools of a similar size, in other areas, could be as much as £750,000 per year better off.

Mr Braidley also paid tribute his colleagues across the borough on the matter.

He said "The schools in Bury are delivering excellent results and a broad, balanced and relevant education to all their pupils, while having their hands tied behind their backs in terms of funding."

Despite financial constraints, Mr Braidley remained optimistic about the prospects for his school.

He told the audience that the school was examining the current issue of "specialist school status", but that the review was still in an early stage.

There was also an expanding curriculum, with subjects such as citizenship now incorporated into the timetable.

Guest-of-honour was Mrs Nancy Cookson, principal of Accrington College and until recently vice-principal at Bury College.