I am committed to protecting education spending. I know that further education is very important in Hackney because disproportionate numbers of people in Hackney drop out of education or go straight into jobs and go back into education through further education. I certainly will vote against any cuts in further education and higher education and speak up for Hackney learners of all ages.
In answer to the second question, there are no plans to cut the education maintance allowance. This is key in encouraging young people to study. Labour has a tremendous record in relation to keeping people in and improving education in Hackney. We've spent millions on the Community College and BSix. We have built five new secondary schools, and almost all our primary schools have improved facilities, and there are more people in the classroom as aresult of Labour investment. All this would be put at risk if another party gets in.
Hello Diane, if primary education in Hackney is so good, why do our schools come consistently at the bottom of comparative tables and keep falling? It can't only be the fault of the (admittedly) imperfect method of comparison surely?
I can confirm that the Green Party would commit to not cutting adult education or the education maintenance allowance. Unlike the mainstream parties, we would increase redistributive taxes and withdraw from foreign wars, rather than cutting public services.
I agree with the Greens that money spent on unwinnable wars should be spent here and am glad to see Diane's commitment to protect education spending. But the reality is that whoever wins there will be cuts. To say otherwise is a pretence. Our nurseries have already been hit. I would certainly prioritise primary schools which are failing half our children. Without basic skills they cannot achieve.
Suzanne Moore Independent
Suzanne - I don't agree that that is the reality at all - or at least, I don't believe that there need be cuts to public spending other than in the areas of the armed forces and the surveillance state.
The Greens are setting out a fully costed manifesto in which redistributive and environmental taxation, along with cuts in arms procurement/withdrawal from Afghanistan/scrapping ID cards and so on, begins to bring the deficit down at the same rate as the Labour Government is currently proposing. It can be done without slashing public services. The three main parties are choosing to slash public services because they don't want to persuade people on taxation. That is a political choice.
I'm going to be at something of a disadvantage in most of these discussions because I don't offer policy-specific guarantees or pledges. What I do offer is to share my influence (including my vote) in Parliament with all the people of Hackney... so if this issue is key to Hackney residents (as evidenced by polls and discussions on my website), then it will be something that I take up in Parliament (including but not limited to voting the way Hackney people tell me to vote on education-funding and other related issues).
Denny de la Haye - Independent
getavote.org and
hackneysouth.org.ukIt is a political choice Matt but has been dictated by the markets. I agree with you and support a more redistributive tax system but the fact is that Hackney is going to face severe cuts . As an Independent it would be my job to work cross party to make sure we didn't get the rawest of deals. ANY cut to education will further impoverish us and limit the chances of Hackneys children. I feel we are in an urgent situation where we have to work together.
Suzanne Moore Independent
Education is one of the top 4 priority areas in the Lib Dem manifesto. Specifcially, we're commited to spending £2.5bn p.a. on early years education, focused on children from poorer areas, to cut class sizes and to provide extra classes where needed. We'll also scrap university tuition fees and allow teaching professionals more say in how they run their establishments, free from Whitehall and council interference. There is a one pager on this at
www.libdems.org.uk . You can also see my personal commitment to this policy in a 3-min video on the front page of www.daveraval.com
Hi
Apologies for the delay in entering the debate – first chance to contribute today. Regarding education…
Darren Caplan
Darren Caplan
Conservative parliamentary candidate for Hackney North and Stoke Newington
07956 820145 (m)
darren@hackneyconservatives.com
www.darrencaplan.com
As is well known, in Hackney North & Stoke Newington primary schools have for seven years in a row come bottom in the national SAT test lists for reading, writing and maths, with more than half of 11-year-olds failing the tests. Although there are, of course, good schools in Hackney, parents and teachers know urgent action is needed to deal with the problems in the very worst schools.
Conservative policies for a new generation of local independent, non-selective state schools funded by taxpayers but run by teachers and responsible to parents would, I believe, benefit Hackney. These schools will be smaller, with smaller classes, and head teachers will be given the freedom to innovate, choose and shape their own curriculum and the freedom to exclude disruptive pupils and set their own discipline policies.
With regard to existing schools, I would support a process to replace the leadership of any school that has been in Ofsted ‘special measures’ for over a year by the end of the next academic year, and the reopening of these schools as Academies by September 2011. Thereafter, all schools that stay in special measures for a year would be replaced with Academies.
Finally, I would support the move to a national per pupil funding system, so that new schools get paid if they attract pupils, with extra funding for the poorest pupils (a 'pupil premium').
No-one is saying that there’s an easy solution, but carrying on as present is simply not an option. Hackney’s parents and pupils deserve better – and I would argue that only the Conservatives have the ideas on local schooling to make the changes required.
Hi All
Can I also offer my apologies for responding late. Its been a busy few days but I feel it's important to still contribute to this important online debate Unfortunately Education in Hackney has significant improvements to make. Can I echo Darren's comments, Hackney has the worst SATs test results for 11 year olds in the country - not just last year, but for each of the last seven years. Some secondary school age children benefit from decent education in academies such as The City Academy in Homerton, but too many are bussed out to neighbouring boroughs, due to a lack of decent schools in the area. This simply is not good enough. The Conservatives plan to open new schools, with smaller class sizes, more freedom for teachers, and responsible to parents, would go some way to turning this statistic around.
Simon Nayyar
Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Hackney South and Shoreditch
Also, its great to see Diane Abbott and a range of other candidates using this forum provided by the Hackney Citizen to communicate with constituents. It would even better to see her colleague Meg Hillier, the former MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch, taking the time to contribute as well.
Apologies for coming to the party late; yesterday was an incredibly full day in the campaign. Better late than never!
In answer to the questions, I can confirm that I would commit to not cutting adult education or the education maintenance allowance. Unlike the mainstream parties, we would increase redistributive taxes and make savings in areas other than essential front-line public services. But we have to remember that alongside a raising in skills for adult learners, Hackney needs a proportionate investmenet in local jobs. That is why I am also committed to a major investment plan into jobs creation in green energy, public transport and community services, creating hundreds (if not thousands) of new jobs in the borough whilst also helping to make our lives healthier and more fulfilled.
Geoffrey G J Payne
Hackney Citizen
Keith Angus
Polly Lane
Matt Sellwood
Darren Caplan
DaveRaval
Diane Abbott
Tony Harms
LindsayHermes
Simon Nayyar
getavote
suzanne moore
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