THE National Union of Teachers has made some strong claims where the future of Thurrock’s schools are concerned.

It predicts the borough is facing almost £10million of funding cuts over the next four years.

Most worryingly the projections claim Arthur Bugler Primary School, in Corringham, will be the worst-hit school in south Essex losing, the union claims, 37 per cent of its funding should the Government’s new National Funding Formula be introduced.

Now, that’s a big claim.

In fact that amounts to almost £300,000 of funding over four years.

Yet MP Jackie Doyle-Price, along with James Halden, the councillor responsible for education, were quick to dismiss the figures as scare-mongering.

In fact, Ms Doyle-Price went a step further and claimed rather than losing millions of pounds the borough’s schools would be almost £1.5million better off. The facts are Conservative MPs, in other parts of south Essex, have voiced concerns in Parliament about their own Government’s plan.

And teachers, parents and campaigners are worried too.

So it’s clear more facts and reassurances are needed - and urgently too.

At the moment there are plenty of claims, and counter claims, but parents deserve to know what the real impact of these changes will have on their children’s schools and educations.