Labour candidate
welcomes Schools White Paper
Julian Ware-Lane, Labour's parliamentary
Candidate for Castle Point, welcomed plans to give parents and pupils new guarantees of what they will get from local schools
and to strengthen school discipline.
The Schools White Paper, recently
published by Labour’s Schools Secretary Ed Balls, sets out:
* a Pupil Guarantee
including an entitlement to one-to-one tuition for children at risk of falling behind in English and maths at primary school
and the early years of secondary school, and a guaranteed place in school, college, training or an apprenticeship for school
leavers.
* a Parent Guarantee, including
the right to regular information on their child’s progress and new School Report Cards to bring into one place all the
information parents need about how local schools are doing. This will include school results, pupil progress, behaviour standards
and Ofsted inspection judgements. An annual survey of parents will also lead to a score for ‘parental satisfaction’
on the new report card.
* strengthened Home-School Agreements
so all pupils and their families clearly understand the school rules and their responsibilities, signing up to adhere to the
rules when they choose schools. Schools will have stronger powers to enforce the agreements and tackle bad behaviour.
Julian said: “Schools
in our area have been transformed over the last twelve years. There are now 190 more teachers and teaching assistants in Castle
Point than in 1997. The number of children leaving primary school getting to the expected level has gone up 12% in English
and 18% in maths.
“Parents tell me they
want well run and orderly schools with strong leadership, good discipline, extra help if their children are falling behind
and an education that’s tailored to their child whether their strengths are practical, academic or both. That’s
what this White Paper will deliver.
“It’s because we
have made so much progress that we can now go further and set out new enforceable guarantees for pupils and parents. Children
falling behind will be entitled to one-to-one tuition to help them get back on track and young people will have a guaranteed
place in education, training or an apprenticeship.
“There will be tougher
powers for schools to tackle bad behaviour, so that lessons are not disrupted by a small minority of pupils. And School Report
Cards will give parents all the information they need including other parents’ views.
“But while Labour is investing
in public services during the recession, the Tories want to cut spending this year and cut school budgets next year. That
would mean fewer teachers and classroom assistants, making it more difficult to keep order in the classroom. And because the
Tories only believe some young people can succeed they refuse to match our guarantee of a college or apprenticeship place
for every 16 and 17 year old who wants to get a skill or learn a trade.”
The age of austerity promised
by David Cameron's Conservative Party could cost parents dear if they ever got the keys of Government says Labour Candidate
Julian Ware-Lane.
"Labour will continue investing
in education during the recession. Labour will intervene early with a new guarantee of one-to-one tuition for children falling
behind in the 3Rs. Labour will ensure young people get an education that’s tailored to them, whether their strengths
are academic or practical or both. Labour will rebuild or refurbish every secondary school and half of all primary schools.
Labour will guarantee a place in school, college, training or an apprenticeship for every 16 and 17 year old who wants to
stay in learning. Labour will give parents more information on how schools are doing with new School Report Cards and by keeping
national curriculum tests at the end of primary school. Labour will take action to make sure standards are rising in every
school. Labour will invest in the early years with 15 hours of free nursery provision for 3 and 4 year olds and 3,500 Children’s
Centres by next year."
Julian Ware-Lane can
be contacted on 07989 564743
Charles Willis, his agent,
can be contacted on 07788 993377
Julian's campaign website: http://warelane.wordpress.com/
Castle Point Labour Party
website: http://www.castle-point-labour.org.uk/index.html
