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Further Education in the Queen’s Speech
The Queen’s Speech last Autumn had a Further Education bill in the list of announced bills. FE colleges will be used to increase the number of children from poorer backgrounds to take degree courses, through a great expansion in the provision of 2 year Foundation Degree courses. To ensure that standards continue to improve, the Learning and Skills council will also be given greater powers to intervene where colleges are underachieving, including the removal of principals and senior staff if necessary.
Education takes centre-stage in the Pre-Budget Report
The centrepiece of the speech was a focus on education, as a social justice issue and as a vital need for our economy. A massive rebuilding programme for schools was confirmed, as well as programmes to boost literacy and a promise to raise GCSE results. The Chancellor said his aim would be to make Britain “the most educated nation in the world.”
The specific measures announced:
- The amount going directly to head teachers increases in April 2007 – up £11K to £50,000 for a typical primary school and up £50K to £200,000 for a typical secondary school
- There will be a consultation on whether adults aged 18 to 25 should be given help with tuition fees in return for voluntary work during their gap year. The aim is to increase the percentage of working-class children going to University. A trial scheme will start in the Autumn of 2007.
- The “Every Child a Reader” scheme, which in trials has helped children aged 6 to gain 21 months of reading age in 5 months of intensive teaching, will be extended to more than 30,000 struggling pupils by 2011. Every child aged 5 and 11 will also receive one free book of their choice.
- An extra £10m to help boys close the gap with girls on reading and writing in 400 schools where the gap is greatest
- To encourage good teaching in challenging areas, the Teach First Initiative will be expanded from London and Manchester to 11 other cities by 2009-10. Teach First gives higher salaries to outstanding graduates who choose to teach in challenging schools.
The £36 billion schools rebuilding programme over the next 4 years, that has been announced previously, was confirmed
There was also confirmation that there will be 3,500 childrens’ centres (at least one in every constituency) by 2010
Consultation document - send us your views
The Education Policy Commission has issued its first year consultation document, and hopefully your CLP will be holding policy forums on the document.
Obviously the top priority of the Commission is to stimulate debate on the Education White Paper and synthesise the input from party members. If you or your CLP have any comments on the White Paper, please send them to us.