A PETITION lobbying the Government to give schools in Essex more funding has been handed over.

Colchester MP Will Quince set up the petition calling for his Conservative colleagues in Government to give more financial support to schools.

He is also asking for them to provide a three year funding settlement to schools to allow them to plan ahead more effectively.

The petition collected 1,975 signatures across nine schools.

Mr Quince said: “I presented my Colchester schools funding petition which I developed alongside headteachers, parents and governors from local schools.

Gazette:

“Signatures came in from nine primary schools and there were 1,975 signatories.

“I always have and always will speak up for our schools.”

Governors at schools across north Essex launched their own Funding for Schools campaign, backed by the Daily Gazette, headteachers and staff.

The campaign’s petition calls upon Education Secretary Damian Hinds to commit to more cash in the Autumn Spending Review.

Schools in our area each need at least 15 per cent more funding to replenish depleted budgets.

Broomgrove Infant School in Wivenhoe handed over its petition to Harwich and North Essex MP Sir Bernard Jenkin.

Gazette:

Sir Bernard visited the school to receive the petition, speak to pupils and answer questions from parents.

Clare Ratcliffe, chairwoman of governors at the school, said: “Sir Bernard spoke to the children in assembly about being an MP.

“While taking questions, one pupil asked him ‘Who is your boss?’ and another ‘Can we have some more money for our school please?’.

“After school Sir Bernard made himself available to parents, answering any questions that they had.

“More than 400 parents and residents signed it, which from a school of less than 180 pupils was great.”

Sir Bernard said he would be presenting the petition to Parliament after the summer recess.

"I do not think there is appreciation from the Department for Education about how difficult it is to find more savings from school budgets," he said.

To sign the online version of the petition, which has got 2,496 signatures, visit bit.ly/2Y4XUoR.