Annual government funding received by schools in the Isle of Man varies from just over ?322,000 to over ?6.5 million.

Figures for the current financial year have been revealed by Minister for Education and Children Eddie Teare MHK.

In a list covering all the schools, it is pointed out that in primary schools the figure includes expenses and staff cover, while in secondary schools a much broader range is covered, including staffing costs.

It also appears the difference in sums allocated correlates with the size of the individual schools and the numbers of pupils on the registers.

The highest budgets by a considerable margin in both primary and secondary categories went to schools in Douglas or Onchan.

Some of the smaller rural schools, such as Ballaugh and Dhoon, have budgets of well under ?400,000 for 2011-2012, compared with the ?1.1 million received by Peel Clothworkers, ?1.15 million allocated to Onchan and ?1.22 million given to Cronk-y-Berry.

The two Douglas secondary schools have the biggest budgets of the five on the Island, receiving notably more than their 'country cousins'.

Ballakermeen tops the table with just over ?6.5 million, just over half a million more than St Ninian's, on ?5.99 million.

Out of town Ramsey Grammar gets ?4.85 million, Castle Rushen ?4.35 and QEII in Peel ?3.98 million.

Mr Teare's figures are in a written answer to a House of Keys question from Onchan MHK Peter Karran.