WEST Devon and Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox last week met anxious head teachers and governors from five local primary schools to discuss the implications for West Devon's schoolchildren of worsening budgetary restrictions.

 The MP, whose own son attended a West Devon primary school, was briefed by the principals on some of the practical, daily difficulties faced by school managers.

These include staff cuts, experienced and proven teachers increasingly being replaced by newly qualified teachers, and teaching assistants being expected to cover classes for longer.

 Mr Cox said: 'As was made vividly plain to me during the meeting, Devon's primary schoolchildren are being failed.

'More and more unrealistic demands are being made of primary schools to obey diktats and "initiatives" from on high imposed by central government, without regard for the effect on their core function of providing an excellent education for children.

 'In addition, the fast growing disparity in education funding between Devon and the national average, now some £359, and the third lowest in England,  is beginning to eat into the ability of these dedicated teachers and governors, to provide a basic education worthy of all our children.'

 The MP said he would be meeting several other local head teachers and school governors, during the parliamentary recess

Mr Cox said he would urgently raise the points discussed with the Secretary of State for Education, Ed Balls, and would continue to press the Government vigorously on the issue.