Approximately 1,000 head teachers from across England protested outside Parliament on Friday in a plea for increased school funding.

The campaigners gathered at Parliament Square before delivering a petition to Downing Street.

The Worth Less? campaign demanded more money to help tackle concerns about class sizes, staff recruitment and retention, and conditions.

Head teachers who attended the rally want the government to ensure that its long-awaited teacher pay announcement is fully funded. They also called for emergency funding for sixth forms, and to support pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Headteacher Jules White, who founded Worth Less?, insists that they are not campaigning for teachers’ pay rise, but for sufficient funding to pay for a fair settlement.

Mr White described the event as “completely unprecedented” due to its large scale and the number of heads who commuted from across the country to support the cause.

In his message to the government, he said: “you will cripple us if you direct us to make (pay) increase without more funding.

“To run a really good school, you need the fundamentals of a strong supply of great teachers and support staff and enough money to fund the wraparound care for students.”

He added: “Hundreds of millions has been wasted on structures, governance arrangements and pet projects, which provide little more than a positively spun sound bite to the general public.”

While a decision is yet to be made, A DFE spokesperson has confirmed that the government are still considering the STRB report and will respond in due course.