Triumph of ignorance storm

IGNORANCE is triumphing over education in Warrington, according to Labour MP Helen Jones.
In an adjournment debate in Parliament, the Warrington North MP raised her concerns about the impact of the government’s education policies on schools in her constituency.
Her attack came ahead of a meeting today (Thursday) with education minister Lord Hill which also involves leader of the council Ian Marks, council officers, school heads and Warrington South Conservative MP David Mowat.
But her remarks were dismissed as “absolute nonsense” by Coun Marks.
Ms Jones (right) said she had received details from Warrington Borough Council of what they had done to challenge the government’s decision to cancel the Building Schools for the Future programme (BSF)
She said: “It is startling to note that in a letter to the Education Secretary, signed by Coun Marks and Coun Keith Bland, the council declare themselves ‘disappointed’ to have lost the BSF money but then agree with his strategy whereby councils apply for direct capital allocations.
“They then press the case for Penketh High School, William Beamont High School and Fox Wood Special School. No mention is made of Lysander High School.
“It is clear from their own documents that the borough council are not interested in seeking finance for improving Lysander High School.
“I will be asking them directly why this is not the case. This is yet another example of the cavalier attitude Coun Marks and Coun Bland have towards the north of the town.
“The Lib Dems trumpeted the BSF money when it was originally announced in their newsletters, and the Tories said the new build at Culcheth High was ‘the best thing to happen in Culcheth in 100 years’.
“They welcomed the initiative – they did not say it was unnecessary. They could foresee no problems and were glad of it. Now, they claim to support the process by which these schools have to bid again for money from a much reduced pot. Simply put, they are refusing to stand up for our schools.”
In the adjournment debate, Ms Jones raised her concerns over the loss of the BSF money.
She also highlighted the effects of the decision to stop specialist school funding to schools, the likely reduction in spending per pupil, the withdrawal of IT support and the reduction in the education maintenance allowance.
The MP also raised concerns about the impact of cuts at Warrington Collegiate, which is expecting a cut of at least three per cent and at the University of Chester which will see a 88.5 per cent cut in its teaching funding which is likely to raise their fees to £7,000.
Ms Jones added: “In effect, what we are seeing is a triple whammy. We have seen the building programme cut, we are seeing funding cut and we are seeing support for students cut. The impact of those cuts on the poorest wards and the poorest families in my constituency cannot be overestimated.
“Fewer of our young people will stay on in education; fewer will go into higher education; this country will suffer for many years ahead as a result. Young people are our most precious resource. We ought to be caring for and husbanding that resource, rather than chopping it off.
“There used to be a slogan – if you think education’s expensive, try ignorance. I think that we are in danger of trying ignorance.”
An angry Coun Marks (left) retorted: “It is absolute nonsense for the MP to claim we are not promoting schools in her constituency for funding. I have made it very clear on several occasions that the top secondary school in Warrington for investment is William Beamont which is in her constituency.
Today she and I are attending a meeting with a government minister in London to put the case for investment in all the Warrington schools that were part of the Building Schools for the Future programme. The meeting has been arranged by David Mowat MP and is also being attended by the four head teachers from the four secondary schools. I know that all of us will be putting a forceful case for investment.
“I wrote to the heads at William Beamont and Lysander inviting them to join us because I was very keen that representatives from all the secondary schools were there, not just the two from Warrington South. Contrary to the propaganda that comes out from Labour, our shared administration at the Town Hall takes great pride in treating the whole town fairly and equally.
“She will know from the debate she initiated on Tuesday that the government is committed to investment in schools. What it is quite rightly not committed to, is the expensive and inefficient expenditure on red tape that surrounded BSF and required us to take on six different external consultants.”

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