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| Wales' schools 'decades behind' | Wales' schools 'decades behind' |
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| Schools in Wales are lagging 40 to 50 years behind those in England in terms of physical upkeep, a council leader has claimed. | Schools in Wales are lagging 40 to 50 years behind those in England in terms of physical upkeep, a council leader has claimed. |
| Denbighshire Chief Executive Dr Mohammed Mehmet, who moved from England 18 months ago, said there was "obvious disparity" in money available. | |
| His view was echoed by the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL). | His view was echoed by the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL). |
| The Welsh Local Government Association said it was "working to put necessary investment into school buildings". | The Welsh Local Government Association said it was "working to put necessary investment into school buildings". |
| Dr Mehmet made his comments in an edition of BBC Wales' Week In Week Out programme, comparing education funding in Wales and England. | Dr Mehmet made his comments in an edition of BBC Wales' Week In Week Out programme, comparing education funding in Wales and England. |
| Talking about school maintenance, he said: "There is obvious disparity between the capital that is available in England and what appears to be available in Wales." | Talking about school maintenance, he said: "There is obvious disparity between the capital that is available in England and what appears to be available in Wales." |
| Asked whether this amounted to a ratio between the countries of 2:1 or 3:1 per student, he replied: "I would have said more based on just what I've seen. | Asked whether this amounted to a ratio between the countries of 2:1 or 3:1 per student, he replied: "I would have said more based on just what I've seen. |
| There is obvious disparity between the capital that is available in England and what appears to be available in Wales Dr Mohammed Mehmet, Denbighshire chief executive | There is obvious disparity between the capital that is available in England and what appears to be available in Wales Dr Mohammed Mehmet, Denbighshire chief executive |
| "I came to Wales a year and a half ago and when I visited schools I was struck by that difference. I would say 40, 50 years in terms of what is visible - the quality, the fabric of the buildings. It's almost beyond doubt. | "I came to Wales a year and a half ago and when I visited schools I was struck by that difference. I would say 40, 50 years in terms of what is visible - the quality, the fabric of the buildings. It's almost beyond doubt. |
| "There is a certain disparity between what is happening in England, even now under these economic circumstances, and what we are able to do in Wales. And I think that's a big issue for us." | "There is a certain disparity between what is happening in England, even now under these economic circumstances, and what we are able to do in Wales. And I think that's a big issue for us." |
| Dr Mehmet's views were echoed by Brian Lightman, president of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL). | Dr Mehmet's views were echoed by Brian Lightman, president of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL). |
| "England is most definitely out-spending us," said Mr Lightman, who is also head teacher of St Cyres School, Penarth. | "England is most definitely out-spending us," said Mr Lightman, who is also head teacher of St Cyres School, Penarth. |
| "I went to quite a number of schools around England, and indeed Scotland as well, and I didn't go near any schools that had the sort of funding issues that we have here in this school and in other schools in Wales." | "I went to quite a number of schools around England, and indeed Scotland as well, and I didn't go near any schools that had the sort of funding issues that we have here in this school and in other schools in Wales." |
| Mr Lightman described claims that English schools are receiving £500 per pupil per year more than Welsh schools as "an absolute minimum". | Mr Lightman described claims that English schools are receiving £500 per pupil per year more than Welsh schools as "an absolute minimum". |
| He said: "I meet a lot of other head teachers from schools all round the UK and I have yet to meet anybody who has anything remotely approaching our levels of funding, and they don't actually understand how we can run a school with the budget we receive." | He said: "I meet a lot of other head teachers from schools all round the UK and I have yet to meet anybody who has anything remotely approaching our levels of funding, and they don't actually understand how we can run a school with the budget we receive." |
| With regard to the condition of his own school, Mr Lightman commented: "Every day there's a new surprise for us to come into. Recently we've had a gas leak which lead to the heating going down and that meant that the pumps that were very old, failed. | With regard to the condition of his own school, Mr Lightman commented: "Every day there's a new surprise for us to come into. Recently we've had a gas leak which lead to the heating going down and that meant that the pumps that were very old, failed. |
| I meet a lot of other head teachers from schools all round the UK...and they don't actually understand how we can run a school with the budget we receive Brian Lightman, head teacher St Cyres School, Penarth | I meet a lot of other head teachers from schools all round the UK...and they don't actually understand how we can run a school with the budget we receive Brian Lightman, head teacher St Cyres School, Penarth |
| "Another area where we've had major problems has been in the electrical circuit. | "Another area where we've had major problems has been in the electrical circuit. |
| "When we started putting more computers into classrooms, which are basic tools for any lesson now, then we found that we started to get power cuts and that has been a major expenditure on rewiring." | "When we started putting more computers into classrooms, which are basic tools for any lesson now, then we found that we started to get power cuts and that has been a major expenditure on rewiring." |
| A spokesperson for the Welsh Local Government Association said the school maintenance backlog across Wales was estimated at £1.6bn in a 2006 report by PricewaterhouseCoopers, and acknowledged: "I would imagine that this would be more now." | A spokesperson for the Welsh Local Government Association said the school maintenance backlog across Wales was estimated at £1.6bn in a 2006 report by PricewaterhouseCoopers, and acknowledged: "I would imagine that this would be more now." |
| The spokesperson said: "We are working closely with the local authorities and the Welsh assembly government to ensure that all schools in Wales are fit for the 21st Century. | The spokesperson said: "We are working closely with the local authorities and the Welsh assembly government to ensure that all schools in Wales are fit for the 21st Century. |
| "We know that there is a significant amount of investment that will be needed from local authorities and the assembly government for this to happen. | "We know that there is a significant amount of investment that will be needed from local authorities and the assembly government for this to happen. |
| "We are working with the assembly government to develop the 21st Century Schools programme, which is due to come online next year. | "We are working with the assembly government to develop the 21st Century Schools programme, which is due to come online next year. |
| "We will work with local authorities to put necessary investment into school buildings but this will take time." | "We will work with local authorities to put necessary investment into school buildings but this will take time." |
| A Welsh Assembly Government spokesperson said: "Governing bodies manage their school budgets and that budget supports the maintenance of the school. | A Welsh Assembly Government spokesperson said: "Governing bodies manage their school budgets and that budget supports the maintenance of the school. |
| "Each individual school budget is determined by the local education authority funding formula. | "Each individual school budget is determined by the local education authority funding formula. |
| "The regulatory framework gives authorities the scope to shape their formulae so that they take account of local education needs and circumstances that are individual to that area." | "The regulatory framework gives authorities the scope to shape their formulae so that they take account of local education needs and circumstances that are individual to that area." |
| Week In Week Out, BBC One Wales, 22:45 BST, Tuesday 2 June | Week In Week Out, BBC One Wales, 22:45 BST, Tuesday 2 June |