Worth Less? Next Steps - Urgent Action Required
Message from Matthew Shanks | DASH Executive
Dear all,
There has been quite a lot going on behind the scenes over the past 2-3 weeks and I would be grateful if you could give the items below your urgent attention and action:
Backbench Debate on School Funding – following a widespread petition, an important backbench debate will take place on Monday 4 March 2019. If heads were able to contact their MPs to see if they are intending to take part in the debate that would be helpful; one MP, Mel Stride, has already responded to say that he will not be so please do not presume that they are.
Mass Joint Letter to Parents – Sean Coughlan at the BBC has agreed to feature a joint letter to parents that will come from all of us across the 64 counties/boroughs that are now involved with ‘Worth Less?’ I will send a letter out next week with date for sending to all parents.
Teacher Supply – using information from the NFER and Heads Roundtable, please find below a summary of analysis of teacher supply and retention. The statistics come from the NFER and the commentary comes from Stephen Tierney and I. Sadly, it makes for very grim reading.
Guardian Feature School Funding – The Guardian have been in contact about a feature on current issues relating to school funding – if you have particular concerns that you would like aired, then please let me know via email matthew.shanks@educationsouthwest.org.uk
Issues may relate to upcoming deficits, High Needs/SEND provision and general capacity. As ever, the more of us that step up and speak out, the more powerful our case becomes.
Cross Party Support – Jules White has met with and contacted a number of MPs over half term and the start of this week. These include, Emma Hardy, James Frith, Caroline Lucas and Anne Main. We are continuing to build cross party support. If you are making progress with your local MP, please keep let me know so I can inform Jules and he will try and make contact with them. Our long term strategy must be to maximise funding under the upcoming Comprehensive Spending Review.
- see L E T T E R from Jules White to Jeremy Quin, MP for Horsham, West Sussex
Everything, of course, continues to be dominated by Brexit, but the issue of school funding, teacher supply and social mobility are remaining high on the political agenda. If we can continue to work together, we can make progress.
Thank you as always to Jules White who is co-ordinating and continuing to lead on this. Without him , this email would not be reaching you.
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