A MEETING on Tuesday to discuss the future of Cumbria’s schools left one south Lakes MP “disappointed”.

Tim Farron, Westmorland and Lonsdale MP and leader of the Liberal Democrats, organised the meeting with Graham Frost, Cumbria branch secretary of the National Association of Headteachers, Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock, schools minister Nick Gibb and other Cumbrian MPs.

He wanted to highlight the swingeing cuts that face schools across the county.

Mr Farron, Mr Woodcock and Mr Frost did not leave the meeting with high hopes. Mr Frost said there was "no sway" from the government during the talks.

Mr Farron said: "This meeting was massively disappointing. I had hoped that the minister’s willingness to listen would mean a willingness to change course.

"Instead he confirmed that the government plans to press ahead with these huge cuts. These cuts will lead to fewer teachers, fewer teaching assistants and larger class sizes."

Mr Gibb accepted schools in Cumbria faced a £23m cut in funding by 2020 and that this could see as many as 625 teachers cut.

However, he would not move from his view that schools had to make savings.

In Barrow, by 2019 Ormsgill Nursery and Primary School will see a £68,849 drop in funding, and at St Bernard's Catholic High School, an estimated drop of £149,061.

Mr Woodcock said the actions of the government were putting the futures of the next generation of schoolchildren at risk.

He said: "The minister was clear that the government thinks that schools have been protected from cuts for too long and must now take the strain, but this is such a short sighted approach.

"If we cut investment in the next generation then we will undermine the foundations of our future prosperity, the government must change course and put investing in our children ahead of tax cuts for millionaires."

Mr Frost said there was only so much pressure teachers could cope with when faced with such cuts.

He said: "The teaching profession is a resilient one, but there comes a point. We want children to be served by people who are able to make education a joyous experience."

In spite of the poor outcome of the meeting, Mr Frost said he expects the fight to continue. He said: "I still think there are battles to be fought and won, I think the deciding factor will be what parents make of these cuts."