Treading an average path means extra funds will be kept to a minimum

George Green's school on the Isle of Dogs in east London is a comprehensive school in every sense and proud of it.

Standing cheek by jowl with council flats and Docklands "executive" housing, it draws its intake from a broad social and ethnic mix and the complete spectrum of ability. But head teacher Kenny Frederick is doubtful that a school like hers will benefit from much of the extra cash announced yesterday, beyond the £50,000 a year extra being offered to a typical secondary school in England from next April.

A new grant worth £125,000 will be available to at least 1,400 individual schools to support leadership and raise achievement in secondary schools "in challenging areas".

The schools would get the direct payment over three consecutive years, to attract teachers with management skills. But as the money seems to have strings attached to it, Ms Frederick is sceptical that a school like George Green's would be a beneficiary.

There are 1,200 boys and girls at the school, which includes a large sixth form. It has a high proportion of youngsters with statements of special educational needs while 66% of pupils are on free school meals. Ms Frederick welcomes a direct hand-out of a further £50,000, although last year she spent £50,000 alone on a recruitment campaign which yielded her 15 teachers.

She admits her school is currently well-funded and she has tapped most other sources of government cash. But despite the government's drive to encourage schools to apply for specialist status, she plans to resist the temptation. "We are non-selective and as a comprehensive we should be trying to be as good as we can at absolutely everything."