Over the last few weeks the people of Swindon will have seen the reasons why our town desperately needs a change of administration. In the last two weeks we have discovered that Ofsted deem Swindon Council’s education system as “failing at all levels”; that the Council have put on notice of closure most of Swindon’s community libraries; and the town’s road network has become gridlocked because of the shabby work the Council did on Bruce Street Bridges. We also learnt…
The Labour Group’s Leader and Spokesperson for Education, Councillors Jim Grant and Carol Shelley, met with Bradley Simmons (Regional Director for Ofsted) and Simon Rowe (Senior HMI) on Wednesday this week to discuss the problems with Swindon’s education system and how it can rebuild. The Labour Group agreed with Ofsted’s assessment that the Council was too defensive and failing to understand the problems faced in Swindon’s education system. Ofsted also said that the Council’s 2014 Education Improvement Strategy had the…
I was interested to read an article on the BBC website making the point that fewer than half of all grammar schools in the country use free-school-meals as part of their admissions process. We hear lots of talk of the social mobility impact of grammar schools, but at the most local grammar school to Swindon fewer than 4% of pupils receive free-school-meals. This compares to the Swindon average of 36% of pupils. Will those pupils from more advantaged backgrounds in…
Since Theresa May became Prime Minister in July, grammar schools have once again become part of the national debate. A former grammar school pupil herself, May’s government is planning to lift the existing ban on selective schooling imposed in 1998. The arguments put forward in support of this system are that selective education boosts social mobility and provides an educational advantage to grammar school pupils. Does an examination of the evidence support these claims? Since Theresa May became Prime Minister…
I'm not sure grammar schools are the answer or even if there is a issue that needs addressing. The Tory government talk of Grammar schools improving the educational experiences for young people across the country, why do they need improving? My children have just completed their education and I'm still very much in touch with families across Swindon, no-one has been telling me the school system has to change. Actually many tell me they'd like the government to leave it…
The Local Authority are consulting on the Education Transport Policy for the 2017-18 academic year. The consultation is from Friday 13 May 2016 until Wednesday 28 June 2016. The policy considers home to school transport for the following areas: Mainstream transport Special educational needs transport Post-16 transport The policy has been updated and rewritten in sections in line with legislation in order to clarify the policy to make it clearer and easier to understand. The revisions made have not affected…
The Labour Group Leader, Councillor Jim Grant, has endorsed a Centre for Cities report that has asked for greater government focus on addressing the economic challenges facing the UK’s fastest-growing and strongest-performing towns and cities like Swindon, Cambridge, Milton Keynes, Oxford and Norwich. The Labour Group Leader, Councillor Jim Grant, has endorsed a Centre for Cities report that has asked for greater government focus on addressing the economic challenges facing the UK’s fastest-growing and strongest-performing towns and cities like Swindon,…
A new deprivation report being presented to the Swindon Health and Wellbeing Board shows the current day deprivation challenges facing Swindon. Overall, Swindon has similar levels of deprivation compared to the national average however there are deprivation indicators that have declined in Swindon compared to nationally. A new deprivation report being presented to the Swindon Health and Wellbeing Board shows the current day deprivation challenges facing Swindon. You can click on the report via the following link: http://ww5.swindon.gov.uk/moderngov/documents/s79127/Appendix%201%20Indices%20of%20Deprivation%202015%20Swindon%20Summary%20Report.pdf Overall, Swindon…
Swindon secondary school children deserve the same educational standards as the rest of the country. After all they are as bright as any other children in the country. Swindon secondary school children deserve the same educational standards as the rest of the country. After all they are as bright as any other children in the country. Whilst it is great to see Holy Cross primary school opening unfortunately according to Ofsted there is only a 50% chance of our secondary…
Local statistics presented to the Children's Health, Social Care and Education Committee show Swindon's GCSE results have significantly declined over the last three years. Local statistics presented to the Children's Health, Social Care and Education Committee show Swindon's GCSE results have significantly declined over the last three years. In the last three years, Swindon's average GCSE results have dropped from an average of 56% of Swindon students achieving 5 A*-C GCSE results (Including English & Maths) to 52% in the…
The Conservative Party’s and Justin Tomlinson’s support for Grammar School provision is very concerning and I do wonder whether this could take us back 50 years in terms of our education and how all our children can be provided with the best education, not just those who achieve good exams at age 11. I write in reference to the Swindon Academy’s decision to introduce a “Grammar Stream” in their school and the Conservative Party’s seeming support for the reintroduction of…
Labour’s plan for more apprenticeships and new technical degrees will let young people choose a better future by offering the opportunity to learn a trade and develop skills for a future career. Under the Tories, the number of 18-24 years olds claiming unemployment benefits for over a year has gone up. 750,000 young people are currently out of a job. Labour will tax bank bonuses to fund jobs for young people. Here in Swindon, there is a clear choice: five…