COLCHESTER Council has called on the Government to invest more in education across the borough.

Councillors unanimously backed a motion, jointly proposed by Cabinet members Tina Bourne and Martin Goss, asking the authority to acknowledge the cuts and lobby the Government for more cash for education.

Teachers, school staff and even pupils spoke passionately to a full council meeting following a protest on the town hall steps organised by campaign group Funding for Schools.

Clare French, head teacher at Kendal Primary School, said: “Costs have risen and schools have fought hard to plug the gaps left by the funding decline across children’s services including those for family support, the NHS, mental health services and social care.

“As well as educators, school staff have become social workers, councillors, therapists, family support workers and health care providers. It is relentless and the demand never stops.

“But we don’t mind because we know it will help the children to learn and live fulfilled and happy lives. But we do need the money to do it.

“Instead we watch with dismay as our most vulnerable children are starting to slip through the net.”

The motion asked the council to recognise the borough lost £17.7 million in funding between 2015 and 2020, an average of £271 per student.

In a bid to reverse the cuts, councillors have promised to lobby, support trade unions, work with MPs and contact the Department for Education directly.

Mrs Bourne, who is also deputy head at St John’s Green Primary School, said schools were at breaking point.

She said: “I love my job. I love the parents, the work, my colleagues and the children, but it is increasingly difficult to get the best I want for those children.”

Council leader Mark Cory, who is a history teacher, said: “Class sizes have increased and teaching support staff have disappeared.” He added: “If we cannot acknowledge the severe detrimental effects of the cuts then we are failing our young people.”

Phil Coleman, a PE teacher, said: “It is even worse than we are making out when you’re on the front line.”

Conservative Group leader Robert Davidson said: “Our children are suffering and that is what is critical.”

The Gazette is also backing the campaign for Funding for Schools. To sign the petition, go to gazette-news.co.uk or go to change.org and search for “Children our the Future”.