The full effect of Government cuts to school funding has been revealed by new research from education unions showing more crowded classes in most of Sheffield’s secondary schools.

Secondary schools are particularly hit due to a shortfall of £500m a year to funding for 11 – 16 year olds between 2015/16 and 2019/20, plus the deep cuts to sixth form funding (over 17% per pupil since 2010).

62% of secondary schools in England have increased the size of their classes in the last two years (2014/15 to 2016/17). In Sheffield Heeley, secondary schools have an average of 1.75 more students in every class – putting Sheffield in the top 10% worst areas for crowding in the country.

Cuts to schools across Sheffield are leaving teachers more stretched and pupils worse off. Crowded classrooms aren’t environments where they can learn effectively, and with class sizes in Sheffield growing, we urgently need more investment in education.

Children and young people only get one chance at school and college and we know that education cuts never heal. As a country we should be investing in this and future generations of young people. I am calling on the Government to urgently address the funding crisis and not continue to ignore these very real problems.