TORY pledges on investment in schools and education have been trashed in a new report that reveals it will take 361 years to restore and repair school buildings at the government’s rate of investment.

Research by Britain’s biggest teaching union, the National Education Union (NEU), has exposed government plans to lop another £600 million off spending on school buildings in 2020 on top of £500m already axed this year.

NEU joint general secretary Mary Bousted said: “Government austerity has deprived thousands of children of the opportunity to learn in decent, modern, fit-for-purpose buildings, instead condemning them to be educated in crumbling, and in many cases, unsafe premises.

“We cannot allow this situation to continue. Immediate investment is required to bring all schools up to a decent standard.”

The findings follow Morning Star revelations that school head teachers are being forced to double up as washers-up, gardeners, meals supervisors and maintenance workers to keep their schools functioning because they cannot afford to employ staff.