IT seems quite illogical that one in 10 schools in Wales are in debt while others have reserves totalling £70m.

These figures show a huge gap in what schools across South Wales have - if anything at all.

According to one teaching union, local authorities, which are responsible for school budgets, do not challenge schools who keep excessive reserves.

While those schools should be praised for good housekeeping, it does seem ridiculous that others are suffering, possibly because they have fewer pupils and therefore less cash to spend.

We believe that the money that is given to schools should be spent on pupils - that is what it is there for.

Schools do have to hold some money back as a contingency but some of the figures revealed in this report leave you wondering what sort of emergency they are waiting for.

We believe the Assembly needs to take a look at this disparity in figures.

We just can’t see the logic in having 11 per cent of schools in Wales in deficit while there is an overall surplus of many millions.

We don’t believe that schools that balance the books well should be punished.

But we believe those who need help should get it.