Teachers’ unions are calling on their members to write to the government to protest at school funding cuts and below inflation pay rises ahead of the upcoming Budget.

In a video released today, Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney from the NEU, Paul Whiteman from the NAHT headteachers’ union, and Geoff Barton from the Association of School and College Leaders say that “enough is enough”.

“Rising class sizes, scarce resources and staff cuts mean children - particularly those who need the most support - are losing out,” said Mr Barton, ASCL’s general secretary.

Schools have seen per pupil funding fall 8 per cent since 2010.

Adding to discontent, the government has ignored a recommendation from the independent pay review body that all teachers should get a 3.5 per cent pay rise after years of pay freezes and caps.

Instead the government announced in July that only teachers on the main pay scale would get the full increase, with those on the upper ranges getting 2 per cent and leader getting 1.5 per cent.

In addition, schools will need to fund the first 1 per cent of the increase from their already squeezed budgets.

“Not only are school leaders enduring a real-terms pay cut, they are being forced into an impossible situation where the only way to afford to pay staff the recommended amount is to lay some of them off,” said NAHT general secretary Mr Whiteman.

“Only new money from the Treasury will solve the school funding crisis.”