Schools in the borough are being forced to cut teaching assistants and cancel trips for classes amid a cash crisis.

Rising energy bills and other costs mean schools and colleges across the borough face running out of money by September.

The crisis, which is also hitting other school services, was raised by the Twickenham MP, Munira Wilson, at Prime Ministers Questions today.

She also took a swipe at the Prime Minister by accusing him of failing to stand up to bullies by appointing Sir Gavin Williamson to his government despite evidence of the appalling treatment of fellow MPs and civil servants.

Ms Wilson said: "I note the Prime Minister has been very busy failing to stand up to bullies.

'But in the real world schools and colleges across the country looking after actual children are struggling to make ends meet.

"One London headteacher has scrapped plans to hire mental health counsellors; a headteacher in Twickenham is no longer filling teacher assistant vacancies whilst another is axing school trips.

"So, Mr Speaker, will the Prime Minister give pupils and parents a cast iron guarantee that in next week's autumn statement there will be no real terms cuts to school and college budgets?"

Rishi Sunak did not say whether education budgets will rise to reflect the increase in inflation and energy costs.

He said: "We have significantly increased funding going into schools over the next two years, but on top of that it was important to this government to help those children who left behind their education opportunities during the pandemic, helping those children to catch up, including unveiling the most comprehensive programme of tutoring this country has ever seen."