We contacted all of the candidates vying for your vote to be the next MP for the Wells and Mendip Hills constituency, asking each of them the same questions. We've taken their responses exactly as they were sent to us - so you know where each of the candidates stand, to help you decide who to vote for.

Here's their responses to the question:

What are your plans for supporting local schools and ensuring high-quality education for all children in our constituency?

Meg Powell-Chandler - Conservative:

"Teachers are the most important and impactful part of a child's education so I want to support teachers and leaders to do what they do best – teach. I previously worked at the Department for Education and there I helped to deliver the Early Career Framework to support teachers when they have newly qualified and I worked on the Workload Reduction toolkit to support schools to strip away unnecessary work that did not add value in the classroom. I would continue to listen to the teaching workforce to ensure action by Government supported them to teach, rather than added the latest fad to their to-do list.

We need to make sure there is an adequate provision of good local school places so that parents have a choice over their child's education. This means ensuring that schools and education are properly provided for when housing is developed.

I am against plans to charge VAT on independent schools – which would risk 134,000 pupils leaving these schools immediately and requiring a state education, which could cost the taxpayer up to £1.6 billion. We believe that there is a broad public benefit in the provision of education. That is why many education and training services are exempt from VAT, which includes an exemption on independent school fees. Labour have said 'it's fine' if their tax raid leads to larger class sizes in our state schools, impacting children's education and they must also be fine about the job losses that this change would lead to amongst teachers and school staff."

Craig Clarke - Independent:

"I will build one new secondary school in the constituency that will ease the burden on others and improve attainment in all schools.

The schools I personally attended in Cheddar have had almost £1,000,000 in cuts since 2010. Why?

I will do ask the government why this was deemed wise.

I do feel the facilities in our schools are underused, such as the woodwork rooms, music rooms, and their tools/instruments.

I believe communities should be allowed to use these great facilities, for a charge, that can be used to increase the school budget."

Helen Hims - Reform UK:

"I want an education system that ensures young people are proud of Britain and learn the skills, character, and values to succeed in life:

• A patriotic curriculum. Our children must be taught about our local and national heritage in a fair and balanced way.
• Ban transgender ideology in primary and secondary schools. There are two sexes and two genders. No gender questioning, social transitioning or pronoun swapping. Schools must have single sex facilities.
• Tax relief of 20% on all independent education: No VAT on school fees. If parents can afford to pay a bit more, we should incentivise them to choose independent schools. This will significantly ease pressure on our state schools, so improve education for all.
• Permanent exclusions for violent and disruptive students: Double the number of pupil referral units so schools can function safely.
• Increase technical courses and apprenticeships: Value young people with vocational talents and stop the assumption that university is the most valued destination following school. Britain needs skilled workers in engineering, construction, IT and high demand sectors."

Abi McGuire - Independent:

"Education needs a cross-party and long-term working plan to secure good provision for our children now and into the future, taking into consideration projected population profiles. OFSTED is no longer fit for purpose. It puts immense unnecessary pressure on teachers and does not address any of the real needs. Furthermore, schools have to fund pay rises from their existing budgets. Teachers are leaving the profession and those that stay are not supported to use their creative skills to teach our children. There is a lack of effective and meaningful accountability for those schools adopting the academy structure. None of these issues can be addressed with polarising party politics. We need to collaborate to find solutions."

Tessa Munt - Liberal Democrat:

"Introduce a dedicated, qualified mental health professional in every school, both primary and secondary, and every college so every student and parent has someone they can turn to for help.

Offer a "Tutoring Guarantee" for every disadvantaged pupil who needs extra support, allowing headteachers and college leaders to decide themselves how to run the scheme.

Create a teacher workforce strategy to ensure that every secondary school child is taught by a specialist teacher in their subject and introduce a clear and properly funded programme of high-quality professional development for all teachers.

Extend Free School Meals to all children in poverty. When children go hungry, they make less progress, have poorer behaviour and worse health outcomes.

Increase funding and change arrangements to Council's authority to make it possible for solutions to be found to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities crisis and for a good education to be provided for every child with additional needs. Conservative cuts to school and council budgets mean many parents can't get their children the support they deserve and need."

Joe Joseph - Labour and Co-op:

"As a priority, we will be focusing on early years and primary age children by creating 100,000 early education and childcare places and offering free breakfast clubs for primary school children. This will also help to ease the burden on hard-working parents.

We will fund 6,500 new teachers and provide better professional development support for school leaders. Alongside supporting teachers, I know that we also need to address school buildings, notably at the Blue School in Wells and in several others across the constituency.

Labour's policy to remove the VAT exemption for private schools will go a long way to supporting implementation of our aspirations for those in the state sector. I'm acutely aware this needs to be managed well. So I have been speaking with school leaders and students in private schools, to understand their concerns and to help them to adapt and continue to thrive."

Peter Welsh- Green Party:

No response was received.

How will you address the issue of school funding and resources?

Meg Powell-Chandler - Conservative:

"It is vitally important that schools have the resources they need to provide a brilliant education to their pupils. I was part of the team that pulled together the numbers and made the argument within Government to increase school funding that helped the cash injection seen in schools in 2020-21. That benefited schools across Somerset and North Somerset and has been built on since to see £60 billion invested in schools this year – the highest ever real terms spending per pupil. I will continue to fight for school funding so we can support our teachers to deliver a fantastic education – both at 5-16 school funding and 16+ funding for sixth form and colleges."

Craig Clarke - Independent:

"I will build one new secondary school in the constituency that will ease the burden on others and improve attainment in all schools.

The schools I personally attended in Cheddar have had almost £1,000,000 in cuts since 2010. Why?

I will do ask the government why this was deemed wise.

I do feel the facilities in our schools are underused, such as the woodwork rooms, music rooms, and their tools/instruments.

I believe communities should be allowed to use these great facilities, for a charge, that can be used to increase the school budget."

Helen Hims - Reform UK:

"We will replace the 2010 Equalities Act which requires discrimination in the name of 'positive action'. We will also scrap Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DE&I) rules that reduce economic productivity."

Abi McGuire - Independent:

"I will work closely with Heather Shearer and the Liberal Democrats at Somerset Council to ensure that all of our schools receive appropriate funding and resources."

Tessa Munt - Liberal Democrat:

"Increase school and college funding per pupil above the rate of inflation every year.

End the scandal of crumbling school and college buildings by investing in new buildings and clearing the massive backlog of repairs.

Reverse Conservative cuts to the Pupil Premium and introduce a young people's premium for those aged 16 to 18.

Reform the School Teachers' Review Body to make it properly independent of Government and able to recommend fair pay rises for teachers, and fully fund those rises every year.

Fund teacher training properly so that all trainee posts in school are paid."

Joe Joseph - Labour and Co-op:

"We will fund 6,500 new teachers and provide better professional development support for school leaders. Alongside supporting teachers, I know that we also need to address school buildings, notably at the Blue School in Wells and in several others across the constituency."

Peter Welsh- Green Party:

No response was received.