MORE than 1,500 people marched through Sandbach on Saturday, protesting proposed funding cuts that would leave Cheshire East Council schools as the worst-funded in the country by 2019.

The proposed national funding formula (NFF) announced in December would leave the average east Cheshire school worse off, with talks of staff and curriculum cuts in the borough.

With the consultation ending today, Wednesday, a borough-wide anti-cuts campaign group came together on Saturday to voice its displeasure in unison.

Victoria Andersson, who helped set up the east Cheshire group, said: “When we spoke to the police they said there were approximately 1,500 people.

“We went from the boys’ school to the cobbles where there were arranged speakers. It was a really, really well planned event.

“The Nantwich protest had about 400 people and we had hoped for 1,000 in Sandbach.

“It was peaceful, with parents, grandparents, students, governors and headteachers coming together from across the borough.

“The formula as they have suggested will be unfair. We keep hearing that it will probably not go through as planned, but regardless of what happens it will be unfair – not just to east Cheshire but all different areas.

“There will be no winners, and schools will be worse off.”

Alongside the march, the group has been busy fielding calls and messages from parents looking for advice in filling out the survey.

With the consultation closing today, the group shows no signs of stopping.

Victoria said: “Going forward we still need to send emails and write to out MPs, and make sure that they know that we are not happy with the overall funding.

“We are bringing our children up here. We have good and outstanding schools and our headteachers are really worried about it.

“We are doing it for the children.”

A government spokesman said: “School funding is at its highest level on record at more than £40bn in 2016-17 and that is set to rise, as pupil numbers rise over the next two years to £42bn in 2019-20.

“Under our proposed new funding formula schools will be funded according to their pupils’ needs, rather than by their postcode, with more than half set to receive a cash boost. Of course we recognise that schools are facing cost pressures, which is why we will continue to provide support to help them use their funding in cost effective ways.”

What are your thoughts on the proposed cuts? Email yourviews@guardiangrp.co.uk.

Find the consultation here.