Entries tagged with “schools” from Working For Walthamstow
At education questions today in the House of Commons local Labour MP Stella Creasy championed the need to invest in school buildings in Walthamstow and urged Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Education, to agree to visit the area to meet those affected by his decision to cut funding for new school buildings. Speaking after the session Stella said:
"We have three schools - William Morris, Holy Family and Willowfield - which I know from personal experience all deserve refurbishment and for which money had been agreed before last week's decision. We also need more school places here in Walthamstow to meet the demands of our growing population which these plans would also have created. I'm therefore pleased the Secretary of State recognised these challenges in his response; now I'm determined ensure his department hears firsthand the views of local parents, pupils, teachers and governors on their plans to stop these projects and the consequences this could have for the future of Walthamstow's children."
Stella is now liaising with the local authority and local schools as well as the ministerial private office to seek the earliest possible date for such a discussion.
Notes
The full text of Stella's question to the Secretary of State at Education Questions on 13 July 2010 is below:
Stella Creasy (Walthamstow) (Lab/Co-op): I recognise that there are many pressing issues in Ministers' diaries, but may I beg the Secretary of State to take seriously the request by Willowfield school in Walthamstow to host a meeting for him, for parents from the Walthamstow area, and for parents affected by the decision to stop all the wave 1 school projects in Walthamstow, including those involving William Morris school and Holy Family college? There could then be a discussion about how we can meet our urgent need for school places in the locality, given that all those buildings have been condemned as not fit for purpose--a bit like the present Government.
Michael Gove: I am grateful to the hon. Lady for asking a very good question with a nice scorpion sting in the tail. I appreciate that in some parts of the country, because of the way in which Building Schools for the Future was run, the decision that we had to make bites more sharply. Waltham Forest is one of them, Somerset another, and Liverpool a third. For that reason, I will ensure that one of my Ministers or officials contacts the hon. Lady very quickly to see what we can do to alleviate this necessary blow.
Waltham Forest Labour MPs John Cryer and Stella Creasy today expressed their anger at the Tory and Liberal Democrat Coalition Government plans to stop investment into the programme to rebuild the borough's schools. Following an announcement by the secretary of State for Education Michael Gove on the future of the BSF schemes in Waltham Forest they issued the following joint statement:
"We are outraged at the Government's decision to cut this much needed investment in our borough's schools without any consultation with parents, pupils, governors, teachers or councillors. We've seen the difference new school facilities such as those at Frederick Bremer and Kelmscott make - and as the local MPs we want those resources for every child in our borough. Time, money and energy has gone into putting together plans to rebuild schools like Leytonstone, William Morris or Willowfield. Now with the swing of Michael Gove's axe that's all wasted and we have no idea how they plan to meet the urgent need for school places we have here either. Today's announcement also raises other questions about fairness in education as this Government channels funding into proposals for academies and free schools. We are determined to fight against the two tier system they seem to want to create which could leave thousands of young people in our borough without the schools and quality learning opportunities they need and deserve."
John and Stella have already co-authored a parliamentary Early Day Motion condemning these cuts and will be seeking clarification about what these will mean for investment in education in Waltham Forest in the current financial year.
Notes
1. The following early day motion has been tabled by John and Stella today:
"that this house condemns the government's decision to cancel the Building Schools for Future programme for a number of schools in the London Borough of Waltham Forest; notes that parents, pupils, governors, teachers and other staff have often worked hard and valiantly under difficult conditions and over many years; that the BSF programme promised new buildings and vastly improved conditions for staff and students and that this announcement will be a serious setback for education in Waltham Forest."
2. Building Schools for the Future (BSF) was the biggest-ever school buildings investment programme. Some 180 schools have been rebuilt or revamped since the programme was introduced in 2004. And building is about to start in a further 231 schools.
3. Originally under Labour's Building Schools for the Future Programme all of England's 3,500 schools were to be revamped by 2023. The plan was to replace out-dated buildings with facilities that suit modern education.
4. The Secretary of State Michael Gove announced today plans to stop the proposed rebuilding of 715 schools across the country. For further details please visit www.education.gov.uk.
5. The following Schools in Waltham Forest have now had their plans for investment cut:
· Belmont Park
· Brookfield House School
· Chingford Foundation
· Connaught Girls
· George Mitchell
· Heathcote
· Highams High
· Holy Family (RC) (QW deducted)
· Joseph Clarke
· Lammas
· Leytonstone
· New Provision
· Norlington Boys
· Rush Croft Sports College
· Tom Hood
· William Morris Special
· Willowfield
There has been a lot of recent press reporting and politicking locally on school places. It's an issue I know many readers will have strong concerns about. As a local school governor, I've been keen to get clarity on what is happening here in Walthamstow. I've been investigating this issue for some time and I want to share the information I have.
There is no doubt we face a challenge in meeting the schooling needs of our local population, like a lot of other areas in London. This challenge has been driven by a number of factors. There's been a "demographic bump" reflecting an increased birthrate over the last few years. At the same time, a larger proportion of children are being schooled in the state primary sector. And, as families have moved more and more around London, it's been difficult to plan effectively.
These factors combined mean we need more places. To provide those places, we need more funding, as Ed Balls argued when he came to Walthamstow last week. That's why the Government has set aside money for Schools in London. Following this, along with Neil Gerrard, I've been seeking assurances from the local authority that no Walthamstow child who needs a reception place in September will be without one. I've also asked them to confirm that all these children will be given places in schools, rather than in buildings outside their school sites. I'm also determined to ensure these places are provided in line with the law so that this increase in the need for places doesn't lead to larger class sizes. In 1997, 33% of infant school children were in class sizes of more than 30 children. Now it is just 2.1%. For our children to continue benefiting from such smaller class sizes, local schools will have to be able to provide additional classes as well as additional places.
I've now been given those assurances. Specifically, I've been told that there are 3,300 places available within schools locally and that parents of children in this age group who have registered for a place will get letters about their children's school on 24 May 2010. That's why now I'd like to hear what parents have to say about this situation. I'm also keen to hear from other governors about the plans being made to provide additional spaces and their views on the proposals. If you're a parent, or a governor or a teacher, or you just want to let me know what you think, please get in touch.
As a local school governor, I know our kids are talented and capable. But sometimes practical barriers prevent them achieving their potential. The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) supports learners from low income households to continue in learning. The scheme gives weekly payments of £ 10, £20 or £30 - depending on family income. No other household benefits are affected and young people can also still have a part-time job and claim. Those receiving EMA must sign a contract with their school or college - and payments are linked to attendance and behaviour. Across the UK half a million children received it in the last year - 3,085 in Waltham Forest alone.
A recent independent study by the Institute of Fiscal Studies shows EMAs have encouraged thousands of young people to stay on in education, who would not have done so without the financial support and incentive. There's now even better news as, from 2008/09, a learner will be eligible for EMA at the same amount for a period of up to three years. This "EMA Guarantee" will be a minimum level of support even if their household income changes and represents a security in funding which will allow them to look ahead to completing their programme of study and progressing into employment or Higher Education.
More information about how to claim EMA can be found by visiting www.direct.gov.uk/ema or calling the hotline on 0800 121 8989.
Walthamstow
is a hub of artistic people and not least among our younger generations.
Recently, the children of Stoneydown Park Primary School have painted four
North London Line railway bridges in High Street ward with huge murals.
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