Education, The new curriculum

I first became interested in the Liberal Democrats when Paddy Ashdown promised an extra penny on income tax to fund education. Since then—through raising four children and serving as a school governor—education has been at the heart of everything I do. That’s why the recent announcement from schools in the Initio Learning Trust about major budget cuts, redundancies, and the closure of courses has left me deeply concerned.

In the past six months, the Government has introduced a broader curriculum, a revised OFSTED approach, and better support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

I welcome their action on these issues, after years of failures from the previous Government. Yet locally we are seeing the opposite— cuts that will be felt in classrooms across our communities, from Sturminster Marshall to Broadstone and beyond.

The new curriculum includes more time for creative subjects, so proposals to cut some now is short-sighted. Music, performing arts, and sport don’t just enhance every child’s education but really benefit those who find core subjects more difficult, and they help create a more inclusive learning environment.

Teaching assistants are crucial in every school. They don’t just provide a lifeline for children with additional needs, helping them access the classroom and aid learning. They also create capacity, enabling teachers to stretch more academically able children. Taking them from classrooms will impact everyone.

It is true that an ageing population means fewer pupils are entering schools, but this should lead to innovation, not cutting the front line. Multi-Academy Trusts were created to share resources and protect schools through difficult periods; they must now be held to that promise.

I’ve met with parents and head teachers to understand the pressures they’re facing, and I’m challenging the Trust to look at alternatives. That includes considering sharing some specialist subjects across both schools so students can still access a full curriculum and scrutinising the central costs that Academy Trusts charge for HR, IT and executive services - because local people deserve accountability.

This is not just an issue in upper schools — after a decade of underfunding it is affecting the whole sector, from early years to FE and universities – so I will continue to hold the Government to account on the long-standing issue of lower funding for pupils in our area.

I visit schools across Mid Dorset and North Poole most weeks and they are always a highlight. Each one is unique, and I’m always impressed by staff commitment and the joy of learning by so many children. I love to hear about their work and to give children of all ages a glimpse of mine too.

Education is the greatest gift we can give our children. It matters to everyone in our community. It prepares the next generation not just for the jobs of today, but for the industries and challenges we cannot yet imagine. Young people need creativity, resilience and the skills to repair our society and the environment and navigate a fast-changing world.

I will keep holding the Government and Academy Trusts to account to make sure every possible penny goes into the classroom. Our children deserve nothing less.