SCHOOLS have reached crisis point.

That was the message at a march in Southampton where parents, children and education workers met to protest against cuts.

Campaigners of all ages gathered at the Bargate for the Southampton March for Schools, blowing whistles and waving placards with slogans such as ‘No more cuts’ and ‘Don’t cut my future’.

The crowds then took to the streets, marching past West Quay Shopping Centre up Above Bar, chanting “No ifs, no buts, fight the education cuts.’

The event was organised by Fair Funding for All Schools – a parent-led campaign protesting cuts to school funding across England.

The government is due to introduce a National Funding Formula in April 2018.

But campaigners say this will mean redistributing money between schools from a total pot that is shrinking in real terms.

Emma Campbell, chairwoman of governors at Valentine Primary School in Southampton, said: “The campaign is apolitical – we are not trying to change votes.

“What we are asking is that whoever gets into power makes school funding a priority. My school is determined not to make cuts that will impact the children’s education. It’s impacting primaries, secondaries, and particularly special schools.

“We just cannot carry on with the funding we have got.”

Eleanor Preston, from Shirley, who has a seven-year-old daughter in Year 2 at Valentine Primary School, said: “Schools are struggling to maintain levels. If cuts go ahead I’ll have no other choice but to home school if there’s 40 to a class and one teacher.”

Liz Filer, who also attended the march, said: “I am concerned about the cuts that are happening now in education.

“Schools are cutting subjects, increasing class sizes, cutting school trips, not replacing back-office staff such as cleaners.

“The only way now would be to cut teachers, which would be disastrous.

“Whoever wins on June 8 needs to sort the crisis that education is in.”

In a speech to the crowds, city councillor Dr Darren Paffey, cabinet member for education,and Labour parliamentary candidate for Romsey and Southampton North, said: “Fair is not just about how you cut the cake, it’s about how big the cake is in the first place.

“It is about education for all and that is why it is great we are standing together this morning.”