Teaching associations have criticised the Government for failing to provide enough funding to support existing state schools in this year's Budget.

Chancellor Philip Hammond yesterday announced the Government would be creating 110 free schools, in addition to the 500 already proposed.

Hundreds of millions of pounds will be pumped into creating the new free schools, which are expected to include grammar schools.

The chancellor said it will enable 'academically gifted' children to fulfil their potential, regardless of their background.

But a spokesperson for the Norfolk Primary Headteachers' Association and Norfolk Secondary Education Leaders has today said there was 'no evidence' to suggest the scheme would improve social mobility.

'The Government's focus should be on ensuring schools working with and supporting children and families in the here and now are properly funded, not on rechannelling precious financial resource elsewhere.'

Addressing MPs, Mr Hammond said £216m would also be invested in existing school infrastructure over the next three years.

But Clare Jones, headteacher at Bignold Primary School in Norwich, said the money promised to existing schools was not enough.

She explained: 'There are more than 500 schools in Norfolk and if you think even half of those needed £1m worth of refurbishment, then that is the budget gone already. It is a drop in the ocean.'

Mr Hammond confirmed that children who are eligible for free school meals would receive free transport to attend selective schools.

Meanwhile, the chancellor announced the introduction of new 'T-levels', which will give technical training equal standing to academic education.

Under the plans, more than 13,000 current technical education courses will be replaced with 15 new career-based training routes.

Mr Hammond said the number of hours training for 16 to 19-year-olds would increase by more than 50pc.

They would also receive a 'high-quality' three-month work placement.

'Once this programme is fully rolled out, we will be investing an additional £500 million a year in our 16 to 19-year-olds,' he said.