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Press Releases / March 29, 2010 / Comment now
Grahame Morris, prospective parliamentary candidate for Easington, has pledged to support the NSPCC’s ‘I stand for children’ campaign which aims to make child protection a priority for the next Parliament.
Grahame Morris said:
“As Labour’s candidate in Easington I’m supporting the NSPCC’s new campaign to ensure protecting children is a political priority: I Stand for Children. I am concerned about the serious incidences of abuse and of the lack of effective protection offered by social networking sites such as Facebook to potential child victims. ”
The NSPCC’s campaign is calling on candidates to commit to a range of child protection measures including:
- Making the internet safer for children
- Continued funding of helpline services for children and for adults concerned about the safety or welfare of a child
- Tackling domestic violence from a child’s point of view
- Ensuring that vital child protection reforms are fully implemented and resourced, following the death of Baby Peter and other child deaths since
- Provision of resources for vital therapeutic services for children who have experienced abuse
- Strengthening the role of the children’s commissioner in England to act as a genuinely independent voice for children.
The charity’s Diana Sutton, head of the public affairs and campaigns unit at the NSPCC, said:
“We need to make sure that the next elected Government keeps child protection high on its list of priorities. By signing up to our campaign, candidates in this next general election can help. The public can play their role by letting the politicians know what they want done.”
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Easington’s Labour PPC Pledges Support For Nature
Press Releases / March 5, 2010 / Comment now
Grahame Morris Supports Major RSPB Campaign
Grahame Morris, Labour’s PPC for Easington has joined a campaign to protect our natural world by signing the Letter to the Future, a major new campaign run by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).
The letter calls for better investment in nature by politicians, urging them to consider our natural as well as our financial future when making decisions about how to tackle the country’s pressing economic problems.
The RSPB aims to gain tens of thousands of signatures to the letter before the next general election, showing the government that people care about nature as well as the economy and want to see it protected fro the benefit of future generations.
A whole host of famous faces have already put pen to paper including Germaine Greer, Imelda Staunton, Alison Steadman, Philippa Forrester, Bill Bryson, John Thompson, Zoe Wanamaker. Grahame Morris has joined them, signing the letter to show his support.
Commenting on this Grahame Morris said:
“We’ve just gone through a grave financial crisis but in tackling it we must not ignore the equally serious crisis facing our natural world. Precious habitats are being lost; many species face extinction and the threat of climate change is looming large.”
“The government had to spend billions of pounds in order to rescue our economy. We owe it to future generations to ensure that this massive investment addresses not just our needs today but also of those tomorrow by creating a health economy and a healthy environment.”
“I value the East Durham Heritage Coast, the bird life in Hawthorn Dene and Castle Eden Dene.”
“I am supporting the RSPB’s campaign because I want our children and grandchildren to be able to grow up in a world where they can appreciate tigers and sparrows, tropical rainforests and bluebell woods, a world worth living in.”
The RSPB’s Head of Sustainable Development, Martin Harper also commented. “The government faces tough economic decisions but these mustn’t be taken at the expense of the environment. We are calling on the government to recognise this and ensure future generations will be able to appreciate the natural world as we do. It’s vital that politicians support us in this campaign and we are very grateful to Grahame Morris for lending his support.”
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Editor’s notes:
- The letter to the future campaign asks politicians to do six things that are at the heart of the RSPB’s work:
- Create a countryside fit for wildlife: Farmers who look after their land in ways that help wildlife should be rewarded for doing so. With your signature, we’ll ask governments across the UK to fund more work that restores and protects habitats that this threatened wildlife depends on.
- Safeguard our sealife: Half of the UK’s wildlife lives in or depend on the sea, but this habitat is overfished, overtrafficked and over-developed. We’ve been fighting to get this habitat the legal protection it deserves, and we’re close. Your signature will help create marine nature reserves that basking sharks, seahorses and puffins need to survive.
- Stop extinction: The fate of so many species hangs in the balance right now. In our UK Overseas Territories, 32 of the species that we have responsibility for are in danger of being lost forever. Your signature will ensure the UK Government takes this responsibility seriously.
- Save tropical forests: We’ll make sure the UK Government does its bit in Copenhagen later this year to secure (and take its fair share of funding) a global climate change agreement which must include keeping tropical forests intact – a great step towards saving some of the richest, and most threatened, places for wildlife in the world.
- Stop climate chaos: Money must be invested in renewable sources of energy sited in the right places – your signature will say no to new coal power stations that pollute, and yes to sustainable energy production in harmony with nature.
- Inspire children through nature: If you experience wildlife first-hand, you’re more likely to love it, and if you love it, you’ll protect it. Sign our letter and encourage politicians to create more opportunities for young people to enjoy nature. If we fail to act now, the wonderful moments with nature that enrich our lives today may become impossible for our children.
- For more information or to sign the letter visit www.rspb.org.uk/lettertothefuture
- The RSPB speaks our for birds and wildlife, tackling the problems that threaten our environment. Nature is amazing – help us keep it that way. Click here to join today www.rspb.org.uk/join
- “The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654
Cash for crackdown on empty homes and anti-social behaviour in Easington.
Press Releases / February 11, 2010 / 1 Comment
Housing Minister John Healey today announced extra support for councils to step up efforts to get empty homes back in use and reduce anti-social behaviour, including cash for an intensive crackdown in 17 local authority areas with known problems.
Empty homes, particularly those in disrepair in areas like the Wembley area of Easington Colliery, can be a magnet for vandalism, drug-taking, gangs or other forms of anti-social behaviour. Councils already have tough legal powers to force private landlords to sort out their properties and can even take over properties if necessary, but tenants and landlords often don’t know about these powers, reducing their effectiveness.
That’s why Mr Healey is today announcing a £1 million boost to council efforts to train key staff on how best to get empty homes back in use, with cash for 17 councils where anti-social behaviour focused around empty homes is a real concern and residents want to see more effective local action.
The main response for councils will be through frontline workers and specialist teams with the expertise to lead the crackdown. This will include action to renovate derelict houses for letting out as social homes, and the use of private funding to turn empty homes into properties that allow local people the chance to take a more affordable step onto the housing ladder.
Today’s announcement is part of the new drive to tackle anti-social behaviour announced in November. The drive will equip up to 10,000 front line workers and community champions, including 1,000 local tenants, with the skills to use tough powers to solve problems in their area.
Local campaigner Grahame Morris said.
“It is clear from recent meetings and multi-agency visits to the Canada and Wembley areas of Easington Colliery that efforts are being made to get to grips with the problems being experienced by local residents.
“Local people should be aware that their concerns have been taken straight to the Housing Minister and I am delighted that the concerns of local people have been listened to and actions put in place.
“While some councils like Durham County Council, registered social landlords and some responsible private landlords are already working with the Police to tackle anti-social behaviour, I am determined to respond positively to local concerns and see more effective co-operation to give the public greater confidence that effective action is being taken.”
Housing Minister John Healey said:
“Empty houses are both a blight on communities and a waste of much needed homes. Councils already have strong legal powers to force the owners of empty properties to act and if necessary take over homes, but these powers are often neither used or understood properly. I want Councils using every tool available so that people can see action being taken against anti-social behaviour in their area.
“That’s why I’m backing a number of councils in areas where empty homes have been a magnet for vandalism, threatening behaviour or other types of anti-social activities. They will get training for frontline workers and tenants so they understand how they can use their legal powers. And they will get the cash they need to renovate and re-let empty homes back, reviving run-down areas of their communities.”
Home Office Minister David Hanson said:
“Tackling anti-social behaviour is not just about using tough tools and powers to prevent people intimidating their neighbours and running down their communities. It is also about creating safe and confident communities where there is no room for this type of behaviour.
“We know derelict homes can often be a catalyst for crime and anti-social behaviour – this extra funding will help address that problem, making a real and visible difference to these communities.”
County Durham is one of 17 local authority areas that will receive funding to develop a wider strategy and implement it with greater staff resource.
Notes
1. £84k each to Liverpool/Stoke/Bolton and Doncaster (those LAs on the list with greater than 3,000 EHs (figures include both long term and less than 6 months).
2. Each of the remaining councils will each receive £53,000 funding with the exception of the Northamptonshire Districts: Corby/East Northamptonshire /South Northamptonshire have been grouped together as the proposal here is for one officer to work across the authorities
3. The Homes & Communities Agency Academy will receive £80,000 to build capacity in each of these local authorities and develop innovative practice which can be tested in one location and rolled out more widely.
4. The Empty Homes Agency and the Chartered Institute of Housing will work with the Homes and Communities Agency Academy on a programme of targeted consultancy to help develop skills and expertise in the 17 local authorities involved to help them successfully obtain the greatest benefit from CLG’s investment. The aim is that good practice can be rolled out more widely and be made available through the HCA Academy to other local authorities.
5. The 17 authorities were selected from the 60 local authorities with the highest level of empty homes and then the following criteria have been applied:
Identified as in need of improvement through the red flag CAA assessment process.
Willingness to do something
Ability to provide matched resources
Free laptops and broadband for families with children in Easington
Press Releases / February 9, 2010 / Comment now
Hundreds of families with school age children across Easington could benefit from a new scheme offering a free laptop and broadband access, according to local Labour Candidate Grahame Morris.
The scheme, which has been launched by the Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Schools Secretary Ed Balls, will mean thousands of children and their parents will be able to get internet access at home to boost their school work.
Trials of the programme showed that children who benefited spent an hour more each week learning online, compared to their classmates who already had the internet at home. And 81 per cent of parents believed that home access had increased their involvement in their child’s learning.
Grahame Morris is urging local parents to check whether they qualify under the ‘Home Access programme’. Families with a child in years 3 to 9 at school and eligible for free school meals can apply for the special laptop and broadband access by calling 0333 200 1004 or visiting www.homeaccess.org.uk
Grahame Morris said:
“Computers are no longer a luxury for the few, but these days are just as essential a part of education as books, pens and paper.
“That’s why I welcome this new scheme to make sure children without the internet at home aren’t left behind.
“Hundreds of families across Easington could be eligible. It will give children the opportunity to do coursework and research on the internet – helping children succeed in school and get the skills they need to get good jobs in the future.
“It will also help parents get more involved in their child’s education, develop new skills and apply for jobs online.”
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For more information please contact Grahame Morris on 0191 526 2828.
Easington’s Grahame Morris is backing efforts to beat cancer by signing Cancer Research UK’s Cancer Commitment
Press Releases / February 8, 2010 / Comment now
PRESS RELEASE
PPC COMMITS TO BEATING CANCER
Prospective parliamentary candidates (PPCs) have been urged to support Cancer Research UK’s new Commit To Beat Cancer campaign, which calls on the next Government to make the UK’s cancer outcomes among the best in Europe in the next ten years. The campaign asks supporters to contact their PPCs, asking them to sign a Cancer Commitment.
Labour PPC Grahame Morris said:
“One in three people can expect a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. Outcomes for people with cancer are improving but they could be better. I’m proud of the world-class charitable medical research we undertake in the UK but more still needs to be done to prevent, detect and treat cancer.”
“The Government’s introduction of a two week maximum wait for cancer patients to see a specialist consultant has been a huge step forward. Labour’s commitment to reduce this wait to one week will save an addition 10,000 lives a year by earlier diagnosis and treatment. It is a pledge that none of the other political parties have matched.”
“I support Cancer Research UK’s campaign to make the UK’s cancer outcomes among the best in Europe. This would have a significant, positive impact on the people of East Durham and I will continue to support measures that will help us to reach this goal.”
Aisling Burnand, Executive Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Cancer Research UK said: “We are very grateful to all the PPCs who have supported our campaign and we are delighted that over 400 prospective parliamentary candidates have signed our Cancer Commitment so far.”
“’It is crucial that measures are supported to improve the UK’s cancer outcomes. Ten-year survival rates have doubled over the last thirty years and our work has been at the heart of that progress. Our five year survival rates, however, still lag behind the best performing countries in Europe (such as Sweden, Norway and Finland).”
“There are challenges ahead, and it is vital that action is taken to detect cancer earlier, provide world class treatment, prevent more cancers, tackle cancer inequalities and protect the UK’s research base. We must maintain momentum and the Commit To Beat Cancer campaign reflects our supporters’ desire to keep up the political pressure.”
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Notes to Editors:
Cancer Research UK is calling on politicians to join us in helping to make the UK’s cancer outcomes among the best in Europe in the next 10 years.
We want to see concerted action from Government in the following five areas:
- Detecting cancer earlier
- Providing world class treatment
- Preventing more cancers
- Tackling cancer inequalities
- Protecting the UK’s research base
We’re asking our supporters to email the parliamentary candidates in their local area asking them to sign our Cancer Commitment.
For more information please visit the Cancer Campaigns website: www.CommitToBeatCancer.org
- Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK’s vision is to beat cancer.
- Cancer Research UK carries out world-class research to improve understanding of the disease and find out how to prevent, diagnose and treat different kinds of cancer.
- Cancer Research UK ensures that its findings are used to improve the lives of all cancer patients.
- Cancer Research UK helps people to understand cancer, the progress that is being made and the choices each person can make.
- Cancer Research UK works in partnership with others to achieve the greatest impact in the global fight against cancer.
For further information about Cancer Research UK’s work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 08701 602040 or visit www.cancerresearchuk.org
Easington’s Labour PPC Grahame Morris Welcomes Government Young Person’s Guarantee
Press Releases / January 28, 2010 / Comment now
This week, the Prime Minister Gordon Brown officially launched the Young Person’s Guarantee. This guarantees 18-24 year olds who have been unemployed over six months an offer of a job, training or work experience. There are almost 1000 unemployed 18-24 year olds in the Easington constituency set to benefit from this positive government action.
Grahame Morris said:
“This is a major part of the Labour Government’s Backing Young Britain initiative to support young people – including young people in the Easington constituency – during the recession. I welcome this commitment that the Guarantee will be supported by over 400,000 Government funded training places, internships, work experience places and job opportunities”
“The Labour Party is committed to helping people into work through its guarantees to young people and ensuring that greater support is on offer from Jobcentre Plus.”
In practical terms all young people will get support from a named personal adviser who will advise them on the options available to help them into work. From April 2010, young people will be required to take up one of the offers by the ten month point of their claim.
Offers include:
- Jobs options, supported by a £1,000 subsidy for the employer. This is in addition to the thousands of extra jobs created in the community through the Future Jobs Fund;
- Additional flexible Adviser Support through Job Centre Plus in the first 13 weeks;
- Training which ranges from short courses to prepare for jobs in particular sectors to full time courses lasting 3-6 months;
- Work experience in the form of internships and places through the Future Jobs Fund available in our area through the Groundwork Trust based in Seaton Holme, Easington Village.
Labour’s Working and Pensions Secretary, Yvette Cooper, said:
“The jobs market is still tough for a lot of people, but the drop in unemployment and youth unemployment is very welcome. It means 450,000 fewer people are out of work than everyone expected last spring.”
Young people who have been unemployed for over six months will shortly receive a leaflet that sets out the offer for young people and the opportunities available in East Durham.
Notes for Editors
In the White Paper – Building Britain’s Recovery: Achieving Full Employment published on 15 December 2009 – the Government announced more help for people who have lost their jobs, a guarantee and top up payment so that people will be better off in work than on benefits and sets out a blueprint for full employment.
16 and 17 year olds
From April 2010, Job Centre Plus will be working more closely with Connexions to strengthen the support available to include additional Adviser Support and group sessions for 16-17 year olds and access to Local Employment Partnership vacancies.
Future Jobs Fund
Since October 2009 Jobcentre Plus have received 368 local opportunities for the Future Jobs Fund, and have now placed almost 100 young people and those living in deprived areas into work. DWP are working with local employers such as Sunderland Football Club, NHS, Cestria Homes, ETEC and many more throughout the whole of the district to provide opportunities for young people in East Durham.
Backing Young Britain
Over 700 young people attended four Backing Young Britain events organised by Jobcentre Plus in October, supported by over 30 employers and partners. These included Asda, Princes Trust, Nissan, and many more. A further regional event is planned for 18 February 2010 in Newcastle. This event will further promote Backing Young Britain to local employers who wish to be involved. Further local events will take place between January and March.
Routes into Work
The Routes into Work element of The Young Person’s Guarantee will provide 100,000 job opportunities for young people. Jobcentre Plus has identified key sectors in which significant numbers of employment opportunities for young people are likely to arise. Routes into Work programmes have been designed for each of these sectors and the Department of Work and Pensions are working with local employers in these sectors. In South Tyne and Wear Valley District, Working Links have been awarded the contract to deliver Routes into Work programmes. To date 4 Routes into Work courses have been delivered lasting 6 – 8 weeks with a further course due to start on 18/01/2010. Sectors involved are Retail and Hospitality; with further events planned for February and March 2010.
Crime falls despite the recession
Press Releases / January 21, 2010 / Comment now
Labour’s Grahame Morris welcomes drop in crime but calls for bobbies to stay on the beat
New figures today show crime has fallen across Britain in the last year. In Seaham overall crime is down a staggering 39 percent on the same period last year with dramatic reductions also reported in Peterlee. This comes despite predictions over the last few months of a recession-linked crime wave.
Easington’s Labour PPC Grahame Morris said:
“Today’s drop in crime is good news and shows that our community has not been broken by the recession.
“This has not happened by accident. It is because of the excellent work of our neighbourhood police teams and close co-operation with the Community Safety Partnership and the support of the general public. Police officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) in East Durham should be very proud of their work during these tough times.
Seaham Police Station
“Getting more bobbies on the beat in our streets is a top local priority. That is why I have supported Labour investment that has meant 16,000 more police officers and16,000 more PCSOs on Britain’s streets.
“I do not believe that the public will stand for cuts to frontline Police officers and PCSOs. Conservative plans would mean 3 500 less officers on Britain’s streets. I don’t think this is the way forward to fight crime.
“Police officers also need the right tools to do the job. DNA evidence puts criminals where they belong – in jail. The cold facts are that in the last year 23 killers and rapists would have remained free to kill and rape again if we had adopted the Conservative proposals. The Conservatives seem to care a lot about the human rights of suspected criminals. I believe that the human rights of people to feel safe in their homes and communities deserve respect too.”
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Grahame Morris celebrates 9,187 homes made warmer in Easington
Press Releases / January 20, 2010 / Comment now
Labour PPC Grahame Morris is celebrating the work of the Warm Front Scheme in tackling fuel poverty in the Easington constituency and is urging more local residents to come forward and get help with measures that could cut their energy bills by anything up to £600 a year.
Grahame Morris said
“Solutions which tackle climate change are vital, but they must also address social issues such as fuel poverty at the same time.
“The Warm Front scheme aims to help people with energy efficiency and is vital in helping increasing numbers of people who are finding energy bills a heavy burden.”
John Cummings MP with Grahame Morris & Councillor Alan Napier
Warm Front works by providing contributions of up to £3,500 towards insulation and gas heating measures and £6,000 for oil for the elderly, disabled and low income families.
Green support services company eaga reported that during the period 1 June 2000 to 30 Nov 2009, there have been record take up figures with 9,187 households in Easington having benefited from the scheme.
These households benefited from a range of energy efficiency measures including loft and cavity wall insulation, new heating systems and draught proofing.
To date £7,081,430.07 has been invested by Warm Front in Easington. Many of those who have benefited from the Scheme are reporting average households savings of anything between £300 and £600 a year.
Rising fuel prices and the need to protect the environment from dangerous CO2 levels are making the work of Warm Front Scheme increasingly important.
As well as benefiting from energy efficiency measures, households contacting eaga are also receiving a free benefit entitlement and to date 190 homes in the Easington constituency have increased their average weekly income by £27.44
To qualify for Warm Front residents must either own their own home or live in privately rented accommodation and should be in receipt of a qualifying benefit. To find out more about the Scheme and see if they qualify Grahame is urging households to contact Warm Front on 0800 316 6014.
On Friday 22nd January 2010 Durham County Council is holding a Fuel Poverty Stakeholder Day event: ‘Heat or Eat’ A Fuel Poverty Awareness Event. This will be held in the Glebe Centre, Durham Place, Murton, SR7 9PX between 9.30am and 3.30pm. Residents will be able to find out more about the Warm Front Scheme, tackling fuel poverty and reducing their energy bills. The event will also allow local people to share their experiences and discuss solutions to fuel poverty.
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For further information contact: Anne Toms on anne.toms@eaga.com or 0191 247 3840.
Note to editors
- eaga plc is a green support services and outsourcing company. It is also the UK’s largest residential energy efficiency provider.
- eaga was established in Newcastle in 1990 and operates across the UK and in the Republic of Ireland, India and Canada. It employs over 4,500 people.
- eaga works in partnership with central and local Government, all six major energy suppliers, local authorities, social housing providers and is increasing its share of the able-to-pay private market.
- Since its inception, eaga has made a positive difference to over 5 million disadvantaged households across the UK, by installing energy efficiency insulation and central heating.
- eaga holds the contract to deliver the £1.5 billion Warm Front programme in England, the cornerstone of the government’s target to eliminate fuel poverty.
- eaga is committed to co-ownership and is one of only a handful of UK organisations where every employee with over a year’s service is entitled to a share in the success of the business.
- Since 2000, eaga has invested over £3 million in the independent eaga Partnership Charitable Trust which funds research into solutions to fuel poverty.
Labour Candidate backs the Royal British Legion Manifesto
Press Releases / January 15, 2010 / 1 Comment
Grahame Morris pledges support for the men and women of the Armed Forces
Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Easington, Grahame Morris, has today signed The Legion Manifesto giving his commitment to improve support for serving and ex-service personnel and their families.
Grahame Morris said
“I believe we owe our brave servicemen and women a huge debt of honour. I want the people of East Durham to know that I will be steadfast in my support for our armed forces and their families. If elected as Easington’s MP in the forthcoming General Election I will not shy away from speaking up for those who have put their lives on the line for their country.”
The Legion Manifesto includes a number of specific polities that it hopes signatories will support beyond the next General Election.
For Service Personnel and their families the manifesto calls for the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme to be kept under continual review in order to promote regular improvements.
Providing bereaved Armed Forces’ families with independent legal advice during inquests and introducing an Independent Advisory Committee on Military Deaths forms part of the manifesto’s key proposals.
The Legion Manifesto also sets out proposals for the treatment of veterans and their families. These include eradicating poverty among older veterans and widows and ensuring priority treatment in the NHS for veterans with injuries caused by their service in the Armed Forces.
The British Legion is encouraging people to contact their election candidates and ask them to pledge their support for the Armed Services by signing The Legion Manifesto.
Notes to Editor
For more information please visit:
http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/campaigning/the-legion-manifesto/take-action
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Labour’s Grahame Morris hails rise in GCSE results in Easington and lambastes Tories for doing down achievements of local schools
Press Releases / January 13, 2010 / Comment now
Grahame Morris, Labour PPC for Easington has hailed a further rise in GCSE results for local schools following the publication of secondary school results today.
He poured scorn on derisory comments by the Conservative Party’s schools spokesman, who this week claimed that there had not been any improvements in schools.
Grahame Morris said:
“The Conservatives are trying to run down the achievements of young people. This is an insult to the achievements of teachers and pupils in East Durham”
“As teachers and parents know we can only keep improving our local schools and supporting the aspirations of all young people by keeping up the investment.
Speaking in the House of Commons this week, the Conservative schools spokesman Nick Gibb MP claimed: “we have not seen improvements in our education system despite the billions that have been spent”.
However, schools across the County Durham Local Education Authority Area have seen big improvements in results, according to today’s figures. Across the County there has been a big increase in the number of pupils achieving 5 or more A-C grades including English and Maths of over 20 percentage points from just 27 percent in 1998 to 48.7 percent in 2009.
Over the last year in the six secondary schools in the Easington Constituency which are Dene Community School of Technology Horden, Shotton Hall School, Peterlee Easington Community Science College, St. Bede’s Catholic Comprehensive School Peterlee, Glendene Special in Easington and Seaham School of Technology (2009 compared to 2008) there has been:
- An overall average 6 percentage points rise in the number of pupils getting five or more GCSEs at A*-C grade from 2008 to 2009.
- Easington Community Science College for example shows a 9 percentage points increase from 39% to 48% in the number of pupils getting five or more GCSEs at A*-C grade, including in the vital subjects of English and maths and a big increase of 12 percentage points from 36% in 2006.
Easington’s Grahame Morris said:
“This year’s GCSE results show a steady increase over the last year and a real transformation in school standards across Easington Schools since 1997.
“Thanks to extra investment and the hard work of teachers and pupils, there has been a revolution in our local schools. There are more teachers and more teaching assistants across County Durham. Exam results are up, school buildings and facilities have been transformed, and more young people are staying on in education or doing an apprenticeship at 16.
“I think it is churlish for the Conservative schools spokesman in the House of Commons this week to claim that there has been no improvement in the education system. He should come to East Durham, see the new schools being built and the huge change that’s taken place over the last 12 years and apologise for his offensive and out of touch remarks.
“While Labour will continue to increase schools funding in real terms every year, the Conservatives are committed to immediate cuts to local schools if they win the election this year. That would turn back the clock on all the improvements of the last decade and would be a disaster for local schools. It would mean losing the teachers and teaching assistants who make our schools work and is the last thing our area needs or wants.”
[see www.dcsf.gov.uk/inyourarea for local stats on teacher and teaching assistants numbers]
Notes to Editors:
- Nick Gibb’s remarks were made in a debate on the Children, Schools and Families Bill on 11 January: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm100111/debtext/100111-0020.htm#1001125000547
| School |
% of pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 achieving 5+A*-C (and equivalent) including English and maths GCSEs |
|||
|
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
|
| Dene Community School of Technology – Peterlee |
20% |
30% |
35% |
30% |
| Easington Community Science College – Peterlee |
36% |
41% |
39% |
48% |
| Seaham School of Technology – Seaham |
30% |
31% |
34% |
28% |
| Shotton Hall School – Peterlee |
26% |
37% |
47% |
46% |
| St Bede’s Catholic Comprehensive School & Byron College – Peterlee |
36% |
44% |
41% |
48% |
| Glendene School – Peterlee |
0% |
0% |
0% |
0% |
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