A schoolgirl has captivated the Labour conference after she claimed she had to teach herself chemistry because of education cuts.
A-level student Helena Dollimore, 17, accused the Government of "stealing the future of the next generation".
She said the coalition's "appalling" cuts were having "a devastating impact" on children across the country.
Conference debutante Helena, from the Bexhill and Battle constituency Labour Party, told delegates in Liverpool: "My sixth-form is set to lose £1,000 per student by 2014.
"The effects these cuts are having on the ground is appalling. The coalition Government is stealing the future of the next generation."
She said schools were making teachers redundant, leading to bigger classes, with 25 students in an A-level lesson common.
"Subject choice is being restricted, with less popular but nonetheless crucial subjects being cut," said Helena.
"Students are being abandoned halfway through their A-level courses.
"I am 17 and I have to self-teach the second year of my chemistry A-level because of these cuts."
Helena attends Heathfield Community College in East Sussex, a mixed comprehensive school with 1,400 pupils aged from 11 to 18.