I AM writing about the little known facts that many schools in west Cheshire and across England are facing an increasing funding crisis.

A day barely goes by without more headteachers talking about increasing class sizes, losing staff, reducing subjects and support services.

In Northwich, for example, Leftwich County High will loose £660 per pupil equivalent to 17 teachers and Kingsmead £515 per pupil, equivalent to three teachers.

The government is failing to live up to its manifesto commitment that “the money following your child into school will be protected”.

At the same time schools are facing a whole range of increased responsibilities and costs while budgets are shrinking in real terms.

The National Audit Office says all this adds up to the biggest cuts in school spending power since the 1990s.

If parents want to do something about it there is a parent-led Fair Funding for All Schools campaign (fairfundingforschools.org.uk).

Parents are calling on the Government to protect per pupil funding in line with manifesto promises and to make sure no school loses out from the National Funding Formula.

The funds required to plug the hole in the schools budget are £335 million – is it fair when existing schools are starved of funds to divert £320 million to create new grammar schools?

If you feel strongly about the issues I urge parents to sign the Fair Funding for Schools petition and write to your MP.

People should also inform other parents and grandparents.

If you want to find information about your school funding cuts you can look up schoolcuts.org.uk.

Barbara McFarlane Address supplied