MPs, Head Teachers and Parents Quiz Minister on School Funding | |||
Ruth Cadbury leads group raising concerns about impact of Government policy
Ruth Cadbury MP for Brentford and Isleworth met with a Government Minister this week along with local councillors, head teachers and parents to raise the issue of the funding of schools in Hounslow Borough. The meeting took place in a House of Commons committee room. Along with her colleague Seema Malhotra, the MP for Feltham and Heston, she quizzed Education Minister Nick Gibbs on what she described as the shortfalls in funding facing schools in their constituencies, with head teachers and parents strongly criticising cuts to their schools services. They also took the opportunity to explain to the Minister how their schools are being impacted and the measures they are being forced to take. The lead member for Education at Hounslow, Cllr Tom Bruce, pointed out that schools in Brentford and Isleworth have a successfully high standard of education, the current funding levels however threatened the ability of local schools to maintain this. 1 in 3 local Primary schools are ranked in the top 250 nationally, with nearly all schools ranked either ‘good’ or ‘out-standing’. Concerned parent, Stephanie Doherty, shared her and other parents concerns that due to changes to school funding her son’s school no longer has any full-time Teaching Assistants resulting in him experiencing less support in the class room and parents being asked regularly to contribute to school funds. The Minister of State for School Standards and Minister for Equalities, defended the plans saying “there are no cuts to funding”, but accepted that schools are experiencing a real term loss of services. October 20, 2017
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