Oxford East MP Andrew Smith attacks coalition “kick in the teeth” for local schools
 
Andrew Smith has spoken out in the Commons today against government cuts to the Building Schools for the Future Programme and the impact on Cheney and Iffley Mead schools in his Oxford East constituency.  He also called on Oxfordshire County Council to go ahead with rebuilding Bayard’s Hill Primary School.
 
He told a Westminster debate on the Building Schools for the Future programme:  “These cuts will be deeply damaging to education and demoralising for students, parents, governors and teachers.”
 
“What message does it send out simply to hack support away from schools such as these?  No assessment or evaluation of their particular needs – programmes just cut. The schools are now in total limbo.   They are told Building Schools for the Future is cancelled, yet do not know what if any resource will be available to meet their pressing needs. It is a kick in the teeth for everyone who cares about these schools and has been working hard for their success.”
 
He also pressed the case for Bayard’s Hill Primary School in Barton, whose rebuilding plans were all set to go, but are now at real risk because Oxfordshire County Council is looking at huge cuts in all its programmes.  Andrew Smith said: “I am calling on the County Council to honour the pledges which have been made and ensure this project can go ahead”.
 
“Everyone will know in the years to come how the first big message from this coalition government was that where Labour invested in the future of our schools and brought hope and opportunity, the Conservative and Lib Dems brought cuts and despair.  It is a tragedy that children’s education is paying the price for their monumental  misjudgement.”
 
To watch to the speech click here (starts 39.20)

To read the full text of the speech click here