Responding to a new survey by NFER (the National Foundation for Educational Research) which found school funding was the most important education issue for school leaders and teachers when deciding who to vote for in the general election, Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders' union NAHT, said:

"Every day we hear from school leaders about how they are struggling to manage the problems identified in NFER's research.

"Children are learning in crumbling classrooms, there isn't enough support for pupils with special educational needs (SEND), leaders are desperately trying to recruit enough teachers, and the shadow of the damaging accountability system hangs over every school in England.

"We will be doing all we can to raise these issues to the top of the agenda during the election campaign."