Hundreds of children, parents and teachers from across England travelled to London last week to protest against schools closing early on a Friday.

A number of schools in England, but mainly in Birmingham, have taken the decision to move to a shorter working week due to ‘funding shortages’.

Parent group Save Our Schools has attributed the shorter week to funding cuts and schools trying to keep within their budget.

Labour MP Jess Phillips led the march in London after crowdfunding nearly £10,500 to take children to the capital to demonstrate, along with her 10-year-old son, who attends one of the schools in Birmingham that closes early on Friday.

Campaigners say more than 250 schools across the country are now either part-time or going part-time as a result of funding cuts, and they warn many more schools will have to follow suit.

The Department for Education (DfE) previously said it did not hold figures on how many schools had changed their hours.

In response to the march, a DfE spokesman said: "We know schools face budgeting challenges and schools are being asked to do more.

"However, Birmingham receives per pupil funding significantly above the national average: in 2019-20, an average of £5,080 per pupil; well above the national average of £4,689.

"So we are also clear that schools in Birmingham should have no need to move to a shortened week for financial reasons."

However, Ms Phillips challenges the government’s claims they have boosted per pupil funding, arguing they have not taken rising inflation, the apprenticeship levy and pension contributions into account.