Action has been stepped up to fight controversial proposals to clawback more than £8.3m from Cumbria's schools.

The figure is the largest chunk of projected savings totalling £14.1m that local education experts want to make next year.

They face increasing pressure to meet spiralling costs of supporting growing numbers of pupils and young people with special needs.

Under the proposals, every school in the county could suffer an unexpected budget cut of three per cent next year - a combined figure that tops more than £8.3m.

Today the News & Star reveals what each school in the area would stand to lose under the clawback proposal.

A current overspend of £6.4m is being funded from council reserves - a method which can not be sustained.

An online petition has gathered more than 1,000 signatures and a Cumbrian MP wants the government to step in.

Cumbria's schools forum - a panel of local education experts which helps to decide how to share central government schools funding across the area - is extending the consultation period into its plans.

It has emerged that alternative proposals have been put forward since the potential school budget cuts were revealed.

Details of the alternative proposals have not been released however.

Alan Rutter, chairman of the schools forum, wrote to fellow panel members this week: "In order to allow adequate time to for these [alternative] proposals to be modelled and then issued to schools for further consultation, it would seem sensible to suggest an extension to the consultation period."

Consultation with headteachers, governors and school leaders was due to close last Monday (SEPT 26) but will now run until October 14.

Schools forum members meet next week to discuss the new ideas.

A further meeting will be needed after the consultation closes for the forum to table recommendations to Cumbria County Council's cabinet.

Any changes to funding agreed by the ruling cabinet could be implemented as early as January.

Shaun Monaghan, head of Jericho School in Whitehaven, is chairman of Cumbria's Primary Headteachers Association that has more than 200 members.

Mr Monaghan said: "I'm pleased the consultation period has been extended to give colleagues to look at this.

"We've advised our members we should involve as many people as possible in this including local councillors, parents and MPs."

Ring-fenced funding for education is split into three main blocks - early years, schools and high needs.

The dedicated schools block goes directly to individual schools while the high needs block is managed by the county council, which has the statutory duty to provide special needs support.

It is being proposed that more than £8m is transferred from schools to help meet high needs costs.

Cumbria County Council says it has seen an 80 per cent rise in the last two years in the number of requests from schools for assessments of children who are subsequently identified as needing support.

A spokesman for Cumbria County Council said: "It is really important people understand this money is being spent on meeting the needs of children with special educational needs and for no other purpose.

"The issue is that the amount allocated to this from within the overall education budget has not been sufficient to keep up with growing demand, as a result of an increase in the age range that we must support and very significant increases in the number requests from schools for support, hence the budget is overspent.

"An overspend like this is not sustainable so there must be decisions made about how the education budget is allocated."

He added: "This is a difficult issue and we are working closely with the Schools Forum to find the best way forward.

"No decisions have been made and we want to encourage all schools to come forward with their views."

Allerdale schools and the proposed cuts

Cockermouth and surrounding area schools

All Saints School £21,319

Bassenthwaite Primary School £3,235

Borrowdale School £6,272

Braithwaite School £9,680

Bridekirk Dovenby School £15,666

Broughton Primary School £14,716

Cockermouth School £153,620

Crosthwaite School £7,907

Eaglesfield Paddle School £22,535

Fairfield Primary School £39,127

Keswick School £135,899

Lorton School £10,358

St Bridget's School, Brigham £14,018

St Herbert's School, Keswick £29,367

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Cockermouth £9,840

Threlkeld Primary School £7,787

Maryport and surrounding area schools

Allonby Primary School £2,637

Beacon Hill, Aspatria £23,742

Blennerhasset School £5,870

Broughton Moor Primary School £8,258

Crosscanonby St John's School £6,710

Dearham School £28,634

Ellenborough and Ewanrigg Infant £6,230

Ewanrigg Junior School £21,068

Flimby School £17,252

Grasslot Infants School £6,230

Holme St Cuthbert School, Mawbray £8,925

Ireby School £5,271

Maryport Infant School £9,225

Maryport Junior School £16,944

Netherhall School, Maryport £91,364

Netherton Infant School £10,733

Oughterside Foundation School £6,340

Our Lady and St Patrick's School £22,914

Plumbland School £8,449

Richmond Hill School, Aspatria £20,989

St Matthew's School, Westnewton £5,968

St Michael's School, Bothel £4,193

Workington and surrounding area schools

Ashfield Infants School £22,180

Ashfield Junior School £30,985

Beckstone Primary School, Harrington £39,898

Dean School £11,149

Derwent Vale Primary School, Great Clifton £14,604

Distington Community School £14,777

Energy Coast UTC £48,498

Lamplugh School £3,354

Northside School £6,949

Seaton Academy £23,443

Seaton Junior School £26,257

St Gregory's School, Workington £28,173

St Joseph's School, Workington £98,765

St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Workington £20,970

St Michael's School, Workington £9,901

St Patrick's Catholic School, Workington £24,234

Victoria Infant and Nursery £21,380

Victoria Junior School £33,673

Westfield Nursery and Primary £23,021

Workington Academy £113,304