Brexit will make schools poorer

WE teachers, students and academics here in the Cheltenham area are devastated by Brexit.

Make no mistake about it. Brexit is killing Britain’s education system. And that’s why we are fighting to stop it.

Being part of Europe has given our families, proudly rooted in our local communities, the joy of possibilities beyond our borders.

But now, our schools are hurt by funding cuts, with schools closing early and class sizes getting bigger.

Here in the South West alone, more than 1,500 schools have had ruthless cuts to funding in the last few years. And Brexit would only make our schools poorer.

Our universities in the South West rely on EU research investment.

In the last decade, the EU has invested more than £450m into universities in the South West (and this doesn’t even include Erasmus funding), data released by Best for Britain and Tech for UK shows.

Our universities are held together by over 2,500 dedicated EU academic staff. But since the referendum, over 1,000 have left our region. Brexit is breaking our universities.

Together, we will not let our schools, colleges and universities become the forgotten victims of Brexit.

Brexit is a step too far. That’s why we urge our MP to realise the Government’s deal would destroy our communities.

Brexit must be voted down, and the public must have the final say.

Jim Stewart, Ruth Fryer, Martin Kilbey, Andrew Cox,

Cheltenham