Parents say education policies will determine General Election vote

More than two in five parents (43 per cent) say education and school funding is an important issue in deciding how they will vote.

According to a poll of 1,012 parents with school-aged children and 755 teachers, which was conducted by YouGov and the National Union of Teachers (NUT), there is a wide concern about school cuts.

On the political issues facing them at the General Election, 43 per cent of parents polled stated that education and school funding will be a key issue in deciding their vote in the 2017 General Election.

The results also show that of those who prioritised education, 83 per cent are more likely to vote for a candidate who will support tackling education and school funding.

On the issue of current school funding, eight per cent of parents believes schools are in financial difficulty, with 24 per cent believing them to be well-funded.

The teacher poll, however, which focused on trends since 2015, when the Conservative government was last elected, found that 38 per cent said that the range of subjects available to pupils in their school had decreased since 2015.

Forty-six per cent said it had stayed the same, and nine per cent said that the subject range had increased.

In addition, 62 per cent of teachers reported that teaching assistant posts have decreased at their school since 2015, and 21 per cent stated that numbers had stayed the same.

Just seven per cent reported that the number of teaching assistant posts had increased in the same period.

Fifty-four per cent of teachers polled also said that funding for high needs pupils has decreased since 2015.

Kevin Courtney, NUT general secretary, said: “The findings of this YouGov poll point unambiguously to a growing crisis in our schools. Parents and teachers are already seeing the devastating effects of underfunding and the largest school cuts for a generation.

“Politicians of all parties should be aware that parents are saying school funding will influence their vote.

“On 8 June, parents, teachers and other concerned voters must consider what is most needed for schools – and which party best fits that aspiration. At this General Election, it is time more than ever to vote for education.”