FEARS over education standards and funding in the county were rasied following a return visit from Government inspectors.

The education inspectors gave a critical report when they visited Buckinghamshire more than a year ago, forcing County Hall to launch an immediate improvement plan to deal with a number of weaknesses.

Education director David McGahey said, at an education committee meeting on Wednesday: 'Our education development plan got a grip on these weaknesses and was set to address them. We put the improvement plan in place, and we have been working on it.

'Change takes time and is a continuing process. We, as an LEA, are improving and making the sort of progress this committee expects us to make.'

Cllr Michael Brand (Lib Dem, Amersham East) challenged the director's optimism. He claimed Bucks was spending £118 per pupil less than other shire counties.

In reply to Cllr Brand's claims, committee chairman Cllr Mike Appleyard (Con, Wooburn) said: 'I do not want to debate figures today because we have not got the figures in front of us.'

Parent-governor representative Jane Dicks, of Chesham, claimed that because of recent Ofsted criticism of the Amersham School as a failed school, she was no longer planning to send her youngest daughter there.

She said: 'When is there going to be a difference made in schools? When are improvements going to carry forward into the schools, so that Ofsted will tell us 'well done'?'

Tory group leader Cllr Mark Greenburgh (Ivinghoe) said: 'Improvements in schools will only be effected by the use of budgets in schools.'

Cllr Appleyard commented: 'The Amersham School was the first to be examined under a rather stricter regime. The whole of the Secondary Heads Association are giving enormous support to that school. We cannot just stand back. We have made an effort to give indirect support to schools in the county. We now have over 70 schools in the county with Investors in People recognition.'

A tracking report on the past year shows:

All Bucks schools now have an attached adviser

Standards in literacy and numeracy are rising in some - but not all - schools

Vehicle access and car parking have been improved in two of the county's schools

Health and safety training in schools is improving

Mr McGahey said that while Bucks now has four schools on special measures, or requiring special help, Norfolk has 15.

He added: 'We are still in a position of being better than most local education authorities.'

The inspectors' report is due in September.