Charlie Stayt 'savages' Tory Minister for Schools Nick Gibb over cuts - and it's a must-see

BBC reporter Charlie Stayt is being praised for grilling the Conservative minister for schools after over 7,000 headteachers wrote a letter to parents about a "funding crisis" facing schools in England.

Nick Gibb appeared on BBC Breakfast to talk about the government's education plans and funding for schools.

Gibb talked about providing national buying schemes to help deal with the cost of energy, computers and "so on" and providing school resource advisors to focus on budget for the schools that need it. In addition, he added that the government decided to tackle the "historic budget deficit" by "prioritising five -16 education," which he admitted meant that "there is a squeeze on post-16 spending."

He added that the government is "giving more money for every pupil in every school" and are "distributing funding in a fairer way" - for students between the ages of five and 16.

He also cited figures that suggested the deficit was down from 10 per cent of GDP and two per cent of GDP this year.

"You seem to be lost in a world of statistics," Stayt began, before launching into a thorough take-down of the Tory minister for schools.

When these head teachers who wrote this letter to their parents today are dealing with the reality and you can quote as many numbers as you like about what you say are statistics, the proportions, whether it's changed since 2010.

In the meantime, there are teachers who are buying pencils; there are parents that are having to buy toilet rolls for their schools. And you seem to think that the way to answer all those issues is to tell them that the good news is, it is better when they know it is not. 

It's like you're being completely deluded over the reality [of what's] happening in the classroom.   

People praised Stayt for his sustained challenging of the minister

And others took the opportunity to criticise the government

Over 7,000 headteachers wrote to millions of families about the cash shortage, and claimed requests to meet education secretary Damien Hinds were rejected due to time pressures.

A number of schools are looking to shorten the day in an effort to save money, and Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said it is "highly likely" that more schools will follow unless more funding is awarded.

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