Angry parents in Nantwich are planning to protest in the town centre over proposed Government cuts to school funding.
Plans by Schools Minister Nick Gibb to introduce a new National Funding Formula could see Nantwich schools hundreds of thousands of pounds worse off.
Headteachers have already warned they could have to axe one in four teachers as well as cut school trips, increase class sizes and potentially reduce to a four-day week.
Parents have until March 22 to air their views as part of a UK-wide consultation on the plan.
And Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson says he has called on his fellow Tory Ministers to treat Cheshire East “fairly”.
Stapeley mum Laura Smith is spearheading a campaign to stage a protest in Nantwich town centre on February 27, from 10am.
Laura, a former secondary school teacher, said: “Our borough is having huge cuts made to its education budget.
“We are talking a full-on education crisis. If we don’t get our voices out there, then by the March 22 it could be too late.
“We will be protesting in Nantwich town square on Monday February 27, at 10am.
“Bring your children if they are having an inset day.
“Please make banners if you can.”
Mr Timpson says he has made the “strongest possible representations” to Mr Gibb (pictured) over the impact of the new NFF on Cheshire East.
Mr Timpson told Nantwichnews: “The government has protected the core schools budget in real terms since 2010, with school funding at its highest level on record at more than £40 billion in 2016-17.
“But the system for distributing that funding across the country is unfair, opaque and outdated.
“It is currently consulting on the factors that make up the formula, and it is important that they get this right so that every pound of the investment we make in local education has the greatest impact.
“The consultation will run until 22nd March 2017, and they are keen to hear from as many Cheshire East schools, governors, local authorities and parents as possible.
“Whilst this does not fall into my ministerial brief, I have made the strongest possible representations to the Schools Minister as MP for Crewe and Nantwich – and on behalf of local parents and schools – for particular care to be taken that Cheshire East schools are treated fairly in this process.”
(pic under creative commons courtesy of Policy Exchange)
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