‘It is an end-of-tether moment’ – Estelle Morris on the schools crisis, cuts and child poverty

The former education secretary has watched as class sizes have gone up, schools have fallen into disrepair and teachers have covered for cleaners. What's next, she asks

Estelle Morris is someone who tries to see the positive side. She's polite about political foes; she hopes that something better will come out of the nightmare that is Brexit. But she is finding it hard to sound upbeat about the financial crisis facing schools.

The former teacher and education secretary is plainly worried about mounting evidence of school cuts. A recent Guardian investigation found there's not enough money for the basics such as textbooks, stationery and science equipment; support staff are being cut; teachers are covering for lunchtime staff and cleaners; buildings are falling into disrepair, and headteachers are relying on parents' donations to make ends meet. One school is holding extra, non-uniform days to raise funds; another is delaying turning the heating on until November; and a teacher in Rotherham told the Guardian she buys sanitary pads and deodorant for her students as well as pens. Class sizes have gone up, school trips are off, subjects have been scrapped and pastoral care has been axed. The list goes on.

Related: Schools have become 'fourth emergency service' for poorest families

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