Kerry McCarthy Labour MP for Bristol East
After nearly a decade of austerity our schools are at breaking point. Over 600,000 children are being taught by unqualified teachers. Nearly half a million children are crammed into super-sized classes.
That’s why this week Labour announced our plan to improve educational standards for all children. We will:
📚 Cap all class sizes at 30 by recruiting nearly 20,000 more teachers;
📚 Guarantee that every child is taught by a qualified teacher, ensuring around 25,000 currently unqualified staff are fully trained during Labour’s first term in office;
📚 Ensure teachers will have more time for lesson planning and professional development;
📚 Invest in ensuring that all school buildings are safe, with a new fund of over £7bn to tackle the backlog of vital but overdue repairs and install safety measures such as sprinklers;
📚 Close the gap in funding for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, with extra funding to reverse deficits in the High Needs Budget;
📚 Fully reverse cuts to the Pupil Premium, and increase spending on it above inflation to support the most disadvantaged pupils.
