School Places Solution Vital

The problem of surplus school places in Shropshire is back on the front page (Shropshire Star 2nd Feb). Now the spotlight has moved on to our secondary schools, which are reported to be facing large reductions in pupil numbers over the next 5-6 years.  This issue has been central to school funding in our County in recent years. To be fair to the controlling Tory group on the former County Council, they did recently attempt to tackle surplus numbers in the primary sector.  Sadly, rank and file Tory Councillors when faced with the inevitable angry protests buckled under the pressure, and appeared more concerned with the approaching unitary elections than with making progress on the matter.

Well, the problem has not gone away. I fully appreciate, and sympathise, with village residents concerned about the risk of closure to their school. On top of the loss of the local shop, pub and bus service this can seem like the last straw. But we must all accept small rural schools cannot be considered in isolation. Surplus places kept open mean less funding for the rest of our schools, including those in both village and town.

In my opinion what is required is an approach that considers the whole of our school system, and whilst listening fully to the people,  is not then derailed by narrow local electoral considerations. The issue is very emotive and inevitably supporters of some schools will be disappointed. The ruling Conservatives on Shropshire Council face some very tough decisions on the matter, but to do nothing is no longer an option.

What was not acceptable was the stance of certain prominent local Tories, who sought to blame the Labour Government for Shropshire’s surplus place problem. Spouting misleading and  inaccurate claims will not solve the problem, and does nothing to foster the informed debate we all need to have on the subject. The funding figures per pupil are largely a product of past failures to tackle the surplus place problem. No Government, of whatever party, is going to pay us to maintain significant numbers of empty desks.

If the same people repeat these claims now, they will truly have exposed themselves to be unable to understand simple mathematics, or worse, to be total cynics.

Shropshire Council highlights the Home Access Scheme

Shropshire Council is raising awareness of a programme to provide low income families with a free computer and free internet access.  The council wants to ensure that all eligible families across the county are made aware of this opportunity and apply for a Home Access computer and internet package.

The Government scheme is being rolled out nationally and is designed to close the digital and educational divides and to help parents keep in touch with their child’s progress.  It has been proven that using technology for learning can help children achieve more, do better in their studies and have fun while they learn.

Shropshire Council is one of the three local authorities nationally to have secured approval to run a special group ordering system which aims to provide families with further support and assistance in applying for a package.  If a family qualifies for a Home Access Grant they can either use it themselves to purchase a computer and internet package or they can take part in the council’s group ordering scheme.

Families may be able to apply for a Home Access Grant if one of their children is in years 3 to 9 and is in full-time education in an English state-maintained school and are eligible for free school meals or are receiving income based Job Seeker’s Allowance or Income Support.  Families can only apply for one package per household.  Further details on the scheme can be found on the following website: www.homeaccess.org.uk

Councillor Cecilia Motley, Lead Member for Children and Young People’s Services said: “We are seeking to maximise the number of Shropshire families who are able to secure a computer and internet package and to benefit from this programme.  It is essential that we raise awareness across the county and, where appropriate, support those families who need assistance in applying for a Home Access Grant.  We are currently briefing schools and other agencies and partners working with families about the programme.”

Families who believe that they are eligible for a grant should ring 0333 200 1004 to get an application form.

New Labour Measures to Aid Social Mobility

The Labour Government will implement virtually all of the 88 recommendations of the ‘Unleashing Aspiration’ report from the Panel on Fair Access to the Professions.

The measures will include an online National Internship Service for undergraduates, a guarantee for around 130,000 of the brightest young people from low-income backgrounds to benefit from assistance at secondary school and a new Social Mobility Commission to provide expert evidence on trends and policy on social mobility, and produce an annual report on progress made towards a fairer, more socially mobile society.

While Labour continues to make progress – through raising the education and training leaving age, expanding apprenticeships, introducing diplomas and other measures – the Conservatives’ opposition to those measures and planned cuts to tax credits poses a threat to the aspirations of people on modest and middle incomes.

Labour’s Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, said:

“My mission is to ensure that all of Britain’s people, from every background, are given the opportunity to develop their talents and learn the skills which will transform their lives. And this social mobility must be rooted in our core value of fairness.

“In many ways society is already fairer. Six hundred thousand children have been lifted out of poverty, record numbers of our young people are going to university, one in three people of working age is a member of a profession, and the gender pay gap has narrowed.

“But we can’t be a truly aspirational society if some people are still denied the chance to get on, and although we have raised the glass ceiling we have yet to break it. That is why our priority will be to remove all the barriers that are holding people back.”

SHROPSHIRE SCHOOL FUNDING

Tory Peter Nutting asks why Shropshire Council’s schools funding from the Government is towards the bottom of range.

The reason is that the Tory controlled County Council totally failed to grasp the nettle of the surplus places in Shropshire.
The facts are we have many empty desks in schools across the county, urban and rural. Taxpayers cannot be expected to pay to fund fresh air. We only get paid per actual pupil in school, not per desk available.

The Tories failed to take that hard decision to remove those surplus places, despite drawing up plans to do so in 2008. Instead with elections looming they ducked the issue, with the result we now have £1m less in the budget, with next year another £1m due to be lost.

So please Peter, give voters the real position on school funding and stop misrepresenting it.