Angela Rayner MP spoke with pupils and teachers at two Reading schools ahead of their busy exam schedule.

The Shadow Secretary of State for Education met with Labour colleagues to talk about her concerns over funding in schools.

Students at Prospect School and St Michaels School had the chance to chat about climate change and Brexit with a raft of local councillors.

This included the newly-elected leader of the Labour Group, Jason Brock, and Rachel Eden, Labour’s Reading West parliamentary candidate.

Mrs Rayner said: “The Tories have cut billions of pounds from our schools and with rising pressures on class sizes and teachers leaving in droves, a generation of children is paying the price for Tory failure.

“In Reading, I saw at first hand the pressures faced by local schools.

“The next Labour government will invest in a National Education Service, ending Tory cuts to our schools and increasing per pupil funding in real terms.”

Prospect School is thought to be one of the worst hit by Government cuts, losing out on £1.1 million between 2015 and 2019, representing £391 per pupil.

Councillors passed a motion in October last year, calling on Education Secretary Damian Hinds to rethink plans to reduce spending.

Cllr Eden added: “I was glad to welcome Angela to Reading to speak with teachers locally about the impact of the cuts.

“I was pleased to support Cllr Pearce’s motion to Reading Borough Council in October on the school cuts.

"The Tories have taken millions of pounds from Reading schools with an average of £370 per pupil.

“I call on Damian Hinds MP to rethink these plans to reduce spending per pupil.”

Several schools in Reading have been forced to ask parents for voluntary contributions, simply to pay for basic equipment.

Catherine Wilson, a parent at Prospect School, said: “I know the teachers at Prospect are trying their best to educate the next generation.

"It makes me angry that the Government is making their task harder by taking away funding.”