AN “administrative error” almost cost Herefordshire school sport £39,000, with county schools left surprised by the figures released yesterday by the Department for Education.

Primary school head teachers across the county were told they would receive £465 a year less than the budget had agreed earlier this year.

However this morning the DfE were quick to reassure schools they would receive the full amount - £8,000 per year, with an additional £5 for each student.

A DfE spokesman said: “This was an administrative error. Schools will be receiving the full amount.

“We will be re-issuing letters to schools this week.”

New government funding for school sport – with a focus on primary schools – was introduced earlier this year in a drive to build on the legacy of London 2012.

With the new school year already several weeks old, a budget cut of 6.25 percent could have presented real problems for the 85 primary schools who had already planned their annual finances.

Herefordshire development manager Peter Knight said: "It's good news for the county's young people that the school's will be recieving the full amount for PE.

"A lot of schools are using the money to train teachers - developing their skills and their onfidence - as well as bringing it specialist coaches."