Schools in Brighton and Hove are facing an unprecedented funding crisis that will impact on the lives of all the city's children.

Headteachers expect to be at least £6 million under budget for the year ahead and are being forced to take desperate measures to save cash.

With wages accounting for about 80 per cent of budgets, teachers could face the axe at the most hard-hit schools and others could find their hours cut.

Basic maintenance projects and improvement schemes designed to enhance children's learning are likely to be put on hold.

The result will be larger class sizes with fewer facilities.

Staff will be overworked and morale will plummet but nobody has more to lose than the children.

The funding gap has been caused by the Government allocating the city 2.5 per cent less than the national average to spend on its schools.

Council chiefs and headteachers are rightly disgusted by the shortfall and are demanding emergency funds be made available.

The city's children deserve better.

They have a right to access the best facilities on offer and they should not be forced to work in cramped, poorly-maintained classrooms.

Ignoring the financial needs of our city's schools is a failure to invest in our children and our future.