Labour, the Liberal Democrats and education unions have turned their fire on the Tories over school funding as the classroom became the latest election battleground.
Jeremy Corbyn said the Conservatives had been “starving schools of funding” as he promised to hike corporation tax to pay for a cash injection into the education system.
The Liberal Democrats promised a £7 billion spending boost on schools, while the headteachers’ union said the June 8 General Election was a “make or break moment” for education.
To fund Labour’s plans for a National Education Service, corporation tax would rise from its current 19% level to 26% by 2021/22, with the Opposition claiming it would raise an extra £20 billion a year.
There would be a real terms increase in funding, with £4.8 billion extra going to English schools each year by the end of the parliament.
Mr Corbyn, who will launch the policy in Yorkshire, said: “People of all ages are being held back by a lack of funding for education, and this in turn is holding back the economy by depriving industry of the untapped talent of thousands of people.
“The Conservatives have spent seven years starving schools of funding, meaning headteachers are having to send begging letters to parents to ask for money.
“They have also cut support for students and forced colleges to increase fees. It’s created a downward spiral that is bad for the people being held back and bad for the economy.”
The National Association of Head Teachers’ general secretary Russell Hobby said: “This General Election is a make or break moment for education. School budgets are at breaking point right now.
“More money for schools is absolutely vital. Whoever forms the next government needs to fund education fully and fairly, reversing the £3 billion of real terms cuts schools are facing.”