Tag Archives: schools

Caroline Page, National policy, Penny Otton, Uncategorized

Pupil Premium – a fairer society in Suffolk?

1 Comment

Suffolk schools pupil premiumA fascinating new interactive map will show you exactly how much extra funding  your local school has been able to claim via Pupil Premium

An extra £25,000? £75,000? £242,000?

Woodbridge county councillor Caroline Page is delighted to point out that ” this school year, Woodbridge’s excellent and inclusive  Farlingaye High School has been able to claim nearly a quarter of a million pounds to provide additional  support to pupils from hard-pressed homes. This is thanks to the  Liberal Democrats  in the Coalition government.”

The Pupil Premium – which is additional to main school funding – is an initiative introduced by the Liberal Democrats in government which intends to address the current underlying inequalities between children eligible for free school meals and their peer. It is doing this very practically by ensuring that funding to tackle disadvantage reaches the pupils who need it most.

You can click here to seach the map for yourself and find out for yourself what your  school has been able to claim.

However, getting the funding is only the start. “Its quite a revelation to see how much money is going into Suffolk schools. We now have to see what they are doing with it, ” points out Suffolk Lib Dem schools spokesperson, Penny Otton

Penny Otton, Uncategorized

Councillor calls for action on unregistered education centres

1 Comment

Penny HeadA BBC Look East programme last week  highlighted  the state of education for those children in Suffolk who have been excluded from school. It claimed that many of these  are being put at risk in unregistered education centres.  Unregistered centres are neither known to – nor inspected by – Ofsted, the education watchdog.  Suffolk County Council has nine unregistered centres but denies children there are unsafe.

Liberal Democrat  County Councillor Penny Otton – who was interviewed for the programme as Spokesperson for Education, Skills, Young People and Localities – said,   “”It sounds to me like an absolutely major crisis!”

” I am shocked that these very vulnerable children are being taught in premises which are not registered, many being obviously unfit for use. Unlike other educational institutions, they are not inspected by Ofsted. This is a serious issue, which brings into question how the council is protecting and supporting these children who often have major behavioural problems.I have already brought this worrying situation up with the new Education, Children and Young People scrutiny committee and I will continue to do so.  The council must do something as a matter of urgency.”