Children in Suffolk will benefit from Schools Plan
February 11, 2009 12:00 AM
Proposals from the Liberal Democrats for big improvements to schools and teaching will see around £26 million of extra cash for schools in Suffolk to boost the education and life chances of thousands of children say local party members.
The plans were launched by Party Leader Nick Clegg and Shadow Secretary of State for Schools, David Laws MP. They call for raising standards in all local schools; closing the gap between children from rich and poor families and ending the era of Government meddling in education.
Cllr David Chappell, and Parliamentary Candidate for the Bury St Edmunds constituency said:
"There has been some controversy over the Liberal Democrat proposals, but rest assured that Vince Cable would not allow is to have a policy that has not been filly coasted! These proposals will be funded from the £20 billion savings already targeted from our review of central government spending!"
"It's a scandal that so little is spent on our children's school meals than anywhere else in the country. It is almost as though because we have more pupils we have to spend less on them! Need and quality are not given priority when it comes to children in Suffolk.
"In Suffolk we spend £4,320 per child on free school meals compared with Camden where £6,910 is spent on each child. That is not right! Who is standing up for our children?"
"There are a number of radical ideas to ensure all young people get the best start in life. The extra cash will make a real difference in our local schools.
"I am particularly pleased that funding is proposed to cut infant class sizes to private school levels of 15.
"We will also introduce a £2.5bn Pupil Premium, to ensure that extra funding goes to the pupils with the highest needs, whichever school they are in. And some of that extra money will pay for after school and Saturday classes, and extended school days.
"We will also get central government off the back of schools, teachers and pupils. The days of ministers in Whitehall stifling schools and interfering with everything that happens in the classroom must end.
"Schools here in Suffolk need to be freed to teach children rather than spend their time obeying ministerial orders and trying to achieve government targets.
"The schools proposals put forward by the Liberal Democrats will go a long way to ensuring that the many thousands of local children who go to local schools have at least as good a start in life as the small number who are educated privately."
The proposals will be debated at the party's spring conference in Harrogate in March.
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