With gangs on our streets and knives in our schools, this is too big a societal issue to look at purely through the lens of our education system.
In Havering, we have saved £79 million over the past four years. Yet we have improved the lives of the people we serve.
This is a welcome trend. School standards have improved. But parents are to be commended for taking charge, when let down by “the system”.
Childhood obesity is a complex question, demanding multifaceted solutions. A simplistic ban on “unhealthy” food and drink advertising is the wrong answer.
In the second article of our mini-series, the Harlow MP calls for a relentless focus on the cost of living, a skills-based economy, social injustices and affordable housing.
When support is provided, the quality is often so poor that the pupil would be better off without it. Often the work is done for the pupil, preventing learning from taking place.
Families and teachers deserve some details on what is being proposed in place of free schools and academies.
Ofsted has judged us “outstanding.” Six years ago it found us “inadequate”. One big achievement is that we are now relying much less on agency staff.
So new research suggests. Private businesses must take at least as much responsibility for this state of affairs as Tory politicians.
Despite our budget being cut, we have achieved bold reforms with libraries, children’s services, broadband roll out and business rates retention. We are open for business.
It is true that financial pressures will increase. But the scope for reform and innovation remains huge. Services do not need to be cut.
Where children are scared to go to school, their parents are being threatened with truancy action and given the option to home educate.
Yet the efforts of other local authorities to provide such opportunities have been derisory. Ministers give speeches but the Government has failed to act.
If ‘fair play’ is to mean anything, then it is vital that legal redress is available to all – regardless of income or background.
This issue is too important for us to let it be distorted by out-of-date socialist attitudes towards the private sector.