The government reckons that state schools in England are more flush with cash than ever.
Mr Speaker, there's more money going into our schools in this country than
ever before. We are investing record amounts in our schools.
The school funding this year is at a record high.
But the UK's statistics watchdog has scolded the government several times
for misrepresenting the figures.
So there must be more to this story.
What's the big question everyone has to answer?
Because if the picture is so rosy, why are banners like this going up outside playgrounds?
Why are parents getting begging letters to help keep schools afloat?
And if you look at total spending on schools in England, that's broadly true.
However, the number of pupils has gone up by about 9% since 2010.
That's an extra 700,000 pupils across state-funded schools in England and when you look at spending
per pupil, that's gone down by about 8% in real terms since 2009.
So there's less amount of money per pupil for each school.
So between 2017 and 2018 the government spent £49bn on schools, which is why they say
they are spending more than ever.
But if you account for inflation, schools only have as much as they did back in 2009
and the number of pupils has risen.
Schools are basically having to educate 700,000 more children with no extra money.
the 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s.
This amounts to the biggest funding cuts schools have seen for over 30 years.
And for headteachers, this means making some really difficult choices,
like letting some staff go and asking those who are left to do far more.
You've got teachers driving the school bus, buying their own supplies
and even cleaning the classroom after school.
In some schools, the curriculum is also getting narrower as things like music and drama classes
and sports activities are being cut.
Others can't even afford basic science equipment.
This is why so many heads have taken the unusual step of speaking out publicly about what they see
as a funding crisis.
It feels awful, because it's for the children, it's for the children's future,
it's our country's future and I feel devastated ... I worry about about it all the time.
But some people say that schools can do more to cut the fat.
One government minister has even said he'd bet any headteacher a bottle of champagne
that they can identify more savings.
But headteachers paint a very different picture.
Here's the marking schemes for three pieces of coursework and in order to try to salvage...
It's not just about how much money schools get from the government,
but also how much support there is available from other children's services
that are run by hard-up local councils.
So things like early intervention, family services, youth services ...
They've all been cut by the end of 2019/20 by around 20% per child
and in many cases schools tell us that they have to pick up the pieces.
As essential services are being cut, schools are having to expand the care and support they offer,
piling even more pressure onto teachers.
And it gets worse. Cuts to benefits means schools are having to cope with rising levels
of extreme child poverty.
Heads are reporting that more children are showing up for school hungry.
Some teachers are even washing children's clothes and helping to feed parents.
We've had parents that have passed out in the school hall just through
doing without meals themselves.
Just this. Just one side?
With the pressure mounting, teachers say morale is at an all-time low
and their workload continues to rise.
Quiet!
Many teachers are burning out and leaving the profession and who can blame them?
But society needs teachers now more than ever.
All of these things affect schools.
There's only one place this will end up.
More children from poor backgrounds failed by schools who simply can't afford
to give them the education and support they need.
That's why we're seeing teachers, parents and pupils getting so political.
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