Our new leader must walk the walk on our continued priority of ‘education, education, education’

By Darren Jones / @darrenpjones

If I were to be asked what one experience drives my politics it would have to be inequality in education.

After thirteen years of a Labour government, recognising the many achievements that were secured, we are still in a position where many are being left behind because of this gross inequality which, quite frankly, is a scar on the face of our nation and on the history of our party. We should without question be just getting this right, and what’s more, as we have already seen with the Coalition government now in charge, the future of educational equality is bleak to say the least.

In my home city of Bristol the Liberal Democrat controlled council are considering the purchase of an eight acre Roman Catholic private school estate in one of the most affluent areas in the North of Bristol, following its decline in numbers and eventual receivership. Whilst I can recognise that the pupils at St Ursula’s need support to be re-placed to allow them to carry on with their education, and that the former staff need support to re-enter employment, I most certainly do not see how spending an as yet to be established sum of money on this type of project is justifiable when the council is cutting services to the most needy in my community. Decreases in the subsidies for meals on wheels, removal of free swimming to the young and the elderly, mass redundancies and yet to be disclosed decisions on spending cuts in the areas of educational support, social services and much more besides – all whilst considering spending what will no doubt be a large sum of money on a private school estate.

The north of Bristol is a prime example of educational inequality based on historic inequality and discrimination. I was originally from a council estate in Lawrence Weston – recognised as being in the bottom 20% of the most deprived areas in England on a multi-deprivation scale and in a ward placed in the worst 10% of deprived areas in England for access to education, training and skills. I went through state education in the local primary school and the local secondary school. I don’t question that the staff at these schools work hard, I see them during term and especially at the end of the academic year and I know they do. Indeed at the primary school where I’m now a governor our assessment of the pupils shows the massive improvement they make from reception through to year six in the areas of reading, writing and maths because of the dedication of the staff but also the extra funding we get to provide one-to-one session support to those children identified as needing extra support. In those children who receive the extra support one can see just how important that service is in getting them from below average to average or above ready for entry into secondary school. Sadly, these funded services are likely to be areas that are cut.

What’s more, local analysis shows the difference in educational attainment in the north of Bristol based on location. In my ward of Avonmouth in 2008 24.2% of pupils attained five GCSEs including English and Maths (a huge improvement from the 13% in 2001) but if you were to walk for about five minutes into the surrounding wards you will find an attainment level of 34.9% in Kingsweston, 71.4% in Stoke Bishop, 84.1% in Henleaze and 75.8% in Westbury-on-Trym – the very ward where Bristol City Council are considering investing to maintain a private provision of education. It is just plain wrong. It’s unjust and it’s unfair.

Education is still the key to social mobility and in an area where only 29% say they are happy with the provision of education in their area it should be a priority for whoever is governing. But perhaps most importantly it should be a continuing priority – indeed a policy vanguard – for the Labour Party and the cause of its people.

I can only hope that with our new leader in place we take these types of consequences to the ConDem decision makers, and indeed to the public, and make it known that for these children, in these communities, in this country this will just not do.