Ruth Cadbury MP Visits Green Dragon

Discusses education shortfall with staff and parents

Ruth Cadbury enjoys a game of chess with the Green Dragon Primary School grand masters. (@GDPS_TW8)

Ruth visited William Hogarth Primary, Cavendish Primary and Green Dragon Primary to talk to children about her role as MP for Brentford and Isleworth and how Parliament works. While talking to head teachers, teachers, governors and parents she listened to their concerns that the current level of funding which is causing real-term cuts.

Both Secondary and Primary Schools across the country are facing serious shortfalls in funding. Green Dragon Primary School experienced a 10% real term drop in grants for Reception to Year 6 from 2014-15 to 2017-18. In order to work within the budget for 2018-19 they have had to restructure, involving the loss of four posts.

Ruth Cadbury, MP for Brentford and Isleworth said, “These totally unacceptable real-term cuts are clearly damaging schools and harming our children’s opportunities. My constituents are reporting increased class sizes, cuts to the curriculum and staff not being replaced.

"It’s unfair to expect our schools and teachers to maintain our very high standards of education with an ever-decreasing budget. The discredited austerity philosophy of this government is failing to provide adequate funding for our children’s education.”

The governing body of Green Dragon Primary School said, “We are a successful and inclusive primary school offering both academic success and a broad high quality curriculum to our very diverse pupil community. Our firm intention is to continue doing so –but there are clouds on the horizon.  Along with all other schools, Green Dragon’s funding has been under pressure as a result of the “cash flat” school funding settlement for a number of years. This means, that the costs continue to rise to meet pay and other day to day costs but the budget pot remains the same year on year.  As a consequences we have had to make significant cuts to our staffing team.”

“Like many governing bodies, we would urge the government to address this issue as a matter of urgency as the situation will only worsen affecting the education of pupils for years to come”

In 2017 Ruth Cadbury MP and Seema Malhotra MP put pressure on the Education Minister, Nick Gibb MP, demanding more for schools during a meeting in Parliament.

Marilyn Bater, Branch Secretary NEU (NUT Section) commented "I welcome Ruth Cadbury's comments and support for schools. 

"As pupil numbers rise, funding for their education is not rising accordingly.  Schools in the London Borough of Hounslow (LBH) are having to increase class sizes, reduce curriculum choices and make reductions to teaching and support staff.  This is not good for our children.

"Green Dragon is not the only school in LBH that has had to make cuts to its staffing team.

"Fairer school funding can only be achieved by putting more money into the system.

"I urge all parents, grandparents, carers etc to visit the schools cuts website, for details of cuts faced by schools in LBH. Then write to the governing body of their child's school, or nearest school, to offer their support".

@NEU_NUTHounslow   /HounslowNUT/

January 19, 2018