Welcome to Brent Labour Party's web site.
Here you'll find news stories, information about our elected representatives and on how the Labour Party is organisied in Brent. You'll also have the opportunity to contribute your views on matters of local concern.
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Cllr. Mary Arnold says stopping Building Schools for the Future will be
"an enormaous setback for children, teachers and communities"
The coalition government’s recent announcements cancelling Building Schools for the Future capital programmes has deprived Brent schools of £80m funding allocated last January to rebuild, remodel and expand four secondary schools initially and a further £300m for the remaining secondaries .
This is an enormous setback for the children, teachers and indeed communities who have invested in the plans, been inspired and had their expectations raised by the promise of a 21st century learning environment. And judging by the stories emerging at the recent rally of parents, schoolchildren and unions to lobby MPs at Westminster, this is the tip of the iceberg across the country. It means that children will be taught in buildings not fit for purpose and in larger classes as there will not be enough school places for Brent’s children, as a result.
Over the last 13 years, Labour invested in Brent’s schools, year-on-year, producing higher standards with results above the national average and narrowing the achievement gap. Fewer schools have been in special measures and more children have stayed in education or training including apprenticeships. But instead of building on success, the Lib Dem/Tory government has put all this is at stake with no alternatives for capital investment as it rushes through the Academies Bill inviting schools to opt out of local authority control.
This coalition government option is initially for ‘outstanding’ schools in contrast to the original model, meaning that schools already doing well could opt to attract additional funds from local authority central services leaving less to support Brent’s family of schools. These new ‘academies’ would not be accountable to the local authority (and taxpayer) and there is concern whether their admissions criteria would be subject to its approval. As the school year ends in a policy vacuum, it is important to thank teachers in recognition of their enormous contribution and to collaborate in the interests of all Brent’s children in the future.
(Cllr) Mary Arnold
Labour Councillor for Kilburn Ward and
Lead Member for Children and Families
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CON-DEM'S BUDGET TO CUT £2.25 MILLION FROM BRENT
The total amount that Brent will have to cut in this financial year as a result of the Con-Dem Coalition Government's Budget is £2.25 million. The largest element of this is the DfE area based grant reduction of £1.88 million.
(See http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/localgovernment/pdf/1611330.pdf )
Council Leader, Cllr. Ann John , OBE, told a recent meeting of Labour Party members that it was too early for precise details of the impact of this cut to be worked through yet, but the Council would endeavour to protect services and save as many front -line jobs as possible. Some job losses appeared inevitable.
This is not what the Lib Dems campainged for is it? Disillusioned Lib Dem voters who want to join a progressive Party can join Labour by clicking here.
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