Commenting on the Budget, Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of the NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union, said:

“The Chancellor had the choice today to deliver real investment to secure the future of education and public services, but he chose not to do so.

“Today’s Budget has once again failed to deliver for pupils and their teachers.

“The decisions taken by the Chancellor and his Government over the last 14 years have decimated our education and children’s services. Yet rather than announce any programme for starting to repair the damage done, the Chancellor’s response is to demand that already over-stretched teachers and headteachers work more efficiently.

“Schools and colleges do not need any more lectures from this Government. They need real investment to deliver the best for the children and young people they are responsible for teaching.

“Our crumbling public services will be this Government’s toxic and sorry legacy, for which children, families and working people will pay the price for years to come.”