MILLIONS of pounds of funding could be cut from the district's schools by 2020.

Schools in Epping Forest will be £2,816,069 worse off collectively in 2020 compared to 2015, according to government data collected by www.schoolcuts.org.uk

Using 2017/18 funding figures and predicted allocations for 2020 from the Department of Education, the website suggests only two - Buckhurst Hill Community Primary School and Upshire Primary Foundation School - of Epping Forest's 40 schools will be better off by 2020.

The others will have their income slashed, with Debden Park High School standing to be the biggest loser to the tune of £394,000 a year, or £450 less per pupil.

The Epping Forest Greens have thrown their weight behind a campaign to stop the cuts to the district's school funding.

Dave Plummer, the party's candidate in Waltham Abbey Paternoster ward and a veteran anti-cuts campaigner, said: "Schools have faced years of underfunding.

"Class sizes are going up, children are losing out and the teaching profession is haemorrhaging teachers who don't have the time or resources to provide the balanced, broad education that they know our children deserve.

"Special Educational Needs funding has been particularly badly affected, leaving staff unsure what support will be available from one term to the next."

Essex County Council, which is responsible for schooling in Epping Forest, suggested the figures might be 'misleading' as they do not take into account 2018/19 funding allocations, a recent funding increase of £30.9m for Essex schools and the fact that the county uses a local rather than national funding formula.

Andrew Baisley, from School Cuts, argued the 2018/19 figures would be updated soon and 'be only a fraction of a percent different'.

He said: "With respect to the allocation of an additional £30.9m, Essex received £10.9 for the increase in the number of students in Essex.

"This leaves just £20m for cost increases, the total budget for Essex is £827m, so just 2.4 per cent, which is just below the current rate of inflation.

"The Essex formula is a deviation from the National Funding Formula, so the figures should be close."

While the exact figures remain in contention, the fact that school's budgets are being squeezed does not.

A county council spokesperson said: "We acknowledge that schools are facing cost pressures and our approach is to maximise the funding schools receive.

"We have recently lobbied the Government on school funding and will continue to lobby on behalf of Essex schools.”

To find out more, go to www.efgp.org.uk/stopeppingforestschoolcuts