Headteachers face another three years of funding problems, according to a survey of Brighton and Hove schools.

Brighton and Hove City Council was one of six local authorities whose schools took part in a survey by experts PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

The firm found costs, mostly higher teacher salaries and pensions, would outstrip rising investment until 2006.

The research, commissioned by the National Union of Teachers (NUT), showed primary schools faced an increase in costs of 16 per cent in 2003-04, 21 per cent in 2004-05 and 27 per cent in 2005-06.

But the Government's last three-year spending plan promised a 12.9 per cent rise in investment in 2003-04, leading to a 3.1 per cent shortfall.

Investment in 2004-05 was set to rise to 18.2 per cent over 2002-03, leaving a 2.8 per cent deficit, and in 2005-06 to 23.4 per cent, meaning a 3.6 per cent gap.

Secondary school costs were set to rise 14 per cent in 2003-04, 19 per cent in 2004-05 and 24 per cent in 2005-06.

This would mean a 1.1 per cent deficit in 2003-04, a 0.8 per cent shortfall in 2004-05 and a 0.6 per cent gap in 2005-06, PwC said.

Overall, PwC surveyed 36 schools in six councils - Birmingham, Brighton and Hove, Durham, Essex, Hammersmith and Fulham in London, and Wiltshire.