Our faculty had been instructed in June by the Department that that they had recognized that there was critically unsafe concrete in a part of the college – however crucially that they may open. I visited in July earlier than the college holidays and requested the DFE to ensure the college had all of the help it wanted.
With simply 24 hours’ discover, the college was instructed the entire faculty needed to shut.
A totally farcical solution to deal with any scenario not to mention one as essential as our youngsters’ security and schooling.
On Friday final week, I joined Mrs Heslop, Headteacher at St James, her workers and pupils to see for myself the three areas getting used for face-to-face studying.
I can’t converse extremely sufficient of all of the workers and kids at St. James’ who’ve dealt with this very troublesome scenario so nicely – and so a lot better than the Government!
I requested two questions, spoke within the debate in Parliament and in addition had a non-public assembly with Ministers to demand that the problems the college has needed to face are handled promptly and work begins as quickly as doable to make the building protected.
However, regardless of guarantees, we’re nonetheless being instructed our colleges should pay for issues themselves utilizing reserves. This isn’t acceptable.
Thirteen years of austerity underneath this dreadful Government and our public providers are crumbling round us.
There isn’t any better image of years and years of Conservative neglect than our youngsters being taught in unsafe buildings – buildings that the Government have identified had been unsafe for years and took no motion.
This is an completely shameful scenario.
It’s not simply colleges, NHS buildings, courts, Local Government buildings are all falling down – and so are the workers – with so many roles additionally minimize they’re on their knees.
I’ll proceed to maintain up the strain on the Government to help our colleges, to totally fund all short-term preparations and long-term works to ensure our youngsters are studying in a protected and comfy atmosphere.
This Government has made a whole mess of their dealing with of the disaster and it’s their many years of cuts in funding which have destroyed not simply faculty buildings however public providers that our communities depend on.
How can any guardian or trainer belief them to tackle the duty of fixing this mess?
As Keir Starmer mentioned yesterday throughout PMQs, we’d like a General Election now to begin fixing this mess!
