Education

Lib Dems warn of education cuts

Published

8 years ago

February 16, 2015

THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS have warned that Wales could be the subject of education cuts if the Conservatives are re-elected into Westminster. Nick Clegg has claimed that the Lib Dems would spend an extra £10 billion a year protecting spending to cover ages 2 to 19. There is a potential impact on Welsh spending dependent on English spending because of the way the Welsh Government’s budgets are calculated through the Barnett formula.

Lib Dem MP for Cardiff Central Jenny Willott said: “The Liberal Democrats are the only party who have said we’re committed to protecting cradle to college spending because we believe that the best way to build a stronger economy and fairer society is to give every child the best possible start in life.”

After the Welsh Education minister Huw Lewis said that the Conservative’s plans for education in England were a ‘poxy programme for reform’, the Herald obtained a more precise and eloquent response from the Welsh Assembly who said: “Any uplift or protection for the schools budget in England would be reflected in our Budget, as determined by the Barnett formula in the normal way. This would be announced at the next Spending Review. However, it is important to remember that this is only one part of the story. The overall impact for the Welsh Budget will be determined by budget decisions for all other comparable UK departments. Any cuts would also result in Barnett consequentials and can cancel out positive consequentials – in the same way that the Welsh budget overall has reduced by around 9% in real terms between 2010-11 and 2015-16, despite the protections for schools and health in England. Our Barnett comparability with the Department of Education is 100%, as set out in the Statement of Funding Policy. That means that at the Spending Review we would get our population share (5.72%) of any increase to Department of Education funding”.

Plaid Cymru’s Shadow Education Minister Mid and West AM Simon Thomas said: “It is ironic that the Liberal Democrats are criticising their partners in the Westminster government a few weeks away from an election after they have sucked up to the Tories for last five years and allowed a settlement that does not fund Wales on the same basis as Scotland. Last year they also backed a budget deal with the Labour Welsh Government. One has to wonder what the Liberal Democrats stand for. We have seen last week the proposals to close schools in Pembrokeshire. Our schools are underfunded. Plaid wants to put that right. When we secure the money Wales is owed, we will invest in our schools to ensure that we can improve standards – enough teachers, enough books and computers so that no child is left behind.”

Welsh shadow Education secretary, Angela Burns, stated: “It’s a desperate comment by the Liberal Democrats. My understanding is school funding in England is being protected but the real issue for me is what is happening in Wales. That’s my concern, how we can get more of the school budget directly into the frontline to support schools and students. A third of the £4.5billion budget is spent in admin or being sliced by the many hands it passes through. The Welsh Conservatives pledged to get the money into schools, that’s what other parties should be doing.”

Education

NEU Cymru teacher members vote to accept pay offer

Published

4 days ago

March 26, 2023

Tom Sinclair

73% of NEU teacher members in Wales who responded to the union’s consultation have voted to ACCEPT the pay offer put forward by the Welsh Government, and end the dispute.

The offer put forward by Minister for Education and Welsh Language Jeremy Miles will see an additional payment to teachers of 3% for this academic year (2022/23), made up of 1.5% consolidated award and a further 1.5% unconsolidated lump-sum. The offer also included an increased pay rise of 5% paid from September 2023. The Minister has also confirmed that it will all be fully funded by the Welsh Government.

Speaking about the members’ decision, NEU Joint General Secretary Kevin Courtney said: “The members in Wales have made a clear decision to accept the pay offer, put forward by the Minister in a letter dated 9 March.

“We would like to thank the Welsh Government for the constructive way in which they have conducted negotiations with the union, and we look forward to a productive working relationship to ensure that the rest of the deal, focused on workload, continues to make good progress.

“Whilst this doesn’t meet our ambitions for pay restitution every part of this offer is due to our members’ efforts – and we will continue campaigning for the Governments in Cardiff and Westminster to invest properly in this generation of children and the staff who work with them.”

David Evans, Wales Secretary for the National Education Union Cymru, said: “It is clear that a large majority of our teacher members here in Wales want to accept the deal from the Minister. They were provided with full information about the offer and have given us a definitive steer.

“This has been a difficult time for everyone in education. Our members do not take decisions to go on strike lightly, but they had to make a stand given the continuing impact of austerity, cost of living and spiralling inflation. We would like to thank all the parents who supported teachers and support staff in the action taken.

“We remain disappointed that the Minister made no offer to teaching assistants, but we know that we have raised the profile of the critical issues which affect everyone in education. Our National Executive will be considering next steps in our support staff pay campaign.”

Education

Commissioner joins students on tour of Dyfed-Powys Police custody suite construction site

Published

2 weeks ago

March 15, 2023

Tom Sinclair

POLICE and Crime Commissioner joins construction students on tour of Dyfed-Powys Police Custody Suite Construction Site

As part of a national open doors to construction sites campaign, this week there is an opportunity for the public in Carmarthenshire to go on site with construction company Willmott Dixon, to see construction work going ahead on the new Dyfed-Powys Police Custody suite in Dafen, Llanelli Carmarthenshire as it nears completion.

Today, 14 March 2023, Police and Crime Commissioner was invited to attend one of the site tours with a group of construction students from nearby Coleg Sir Gar.

As part of the open doors event, members of the public are shown around a construction of approximately 4000m2 over two storeys, that includes 18 new cell custody suites, interview rooms, cells, charge desk, open plan office space and associated meeting rooms and a significant area for mechanical and electrical plant.

Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn said: “This is a major investment for us which will see an ambitious, modern, sustainable fit for purpose policing hub and custody suite that will meet the needs and expectations of modern policing.

“I am grateful for Willmott Dixon, for including the construction site on the menu of construction sites for the national Open Doors campaign this week. I’ve worked extremely hard with partners over recent years to ensure that we get to this position, and it was great to be able to walk around the building today with a group of students from Coleg Sir Gar as it nears completion.”

The new Carmarthenshire Custody Suite, based in Dafen Llanelli, will offer a more sustainable environment, while also help protect natural resources. Amongst some of the sustainable credentials of the new building will be a photovoltaic solar power installation to minimise the carbon footprint of the building; a rainwater harvesting facility for toilets and non-potable water, and electric car charging facilities.

Education

A unique learning experience for students from Pembrokeshire College

Published

2 weeks ago

March 14, 2023

Tom Sinclair

LAST week staff and students from Pembrokeshire College were delighted to be able to officially open their teaching space at Folly Farm.

Designed for Level 3 Animal Management learners, this unique teaching facility exemplifies what can be achieved by educators and employers working in partnership.

Jointly funded by Welsh Government and Pembrokeshire College, the facility opened for learners just prior to lockdown back in February 2020. Overlooking the rhino enclosure, learners are exposed to a wide variety of opportunities including shadowing zookeepers and working with exotic species – opportunities made possible due to their location at the centre of a working zoo.

During the opening Chris Ebsworth, Folly Farm Managing Director, highlighted the excellent opportunities that are available to learners; not only in working directly with animals, but also in the wider field of conservation. Meanwhile, learner Georgia Pike gave her perspective on what the centre brings to learners. Being based at Folly Farm provides a truly unique learning experience, something that just wouldn’t be possible on the main College campus.

MP Simon Hart rounded off by cutting the ribbon and officially opening the centre. The opening was also attended by representatives from Pembrokeshire County Council, Coleg Sir Gar, CITB and The John Burns Foundation (Burns in the Community).