Reading Liberal Democrats

£35,000 will help Year 7 pupils who didn’t reach the expected level in literacy and maths when they finished primary school in Reading catch up with their classmates who did.

Schools will receive £500 per pupil who didn’t reach the expected level to help them through catch-up classes and individual tuition.

Evidence shows only five per cent of pupils who don’t achieve Level 4 in both English and maths at Key Stage 2 go on to achieve five GCSEs at A* to C, including English and maths.

This extra money, announced by Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg in September at Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference, is to help these children catch up with their classmates.

Schools will have freedom to decide how best to use the catch-up premium, but examples could include:

• Small-group tuition supported by new classroom materials and resources, which could take place at lunchtimes or after school;
• Holiday support to deliver intensive catch-up over a short period.
• Additional services and materials to add to those provided by the school, such as tutor services or proven computer-based learning or online support.

Commenting, Cllr Meri O’Connell, Reading LibDems Education Spokesperson said:

“No pupil should be left behind in our schools, to ensure that everyone has a fair chance to get on in life. To achieve this it is hugely important that every child has a strong grasp of maths and a good reading ability when they start at secondary school.

“Catch-up classes and personal tuition are targeted at those who need a helping hand, so their chances of success are increased rather than letting them fall behind further.

“This will allow whole classes to move forward faster together by boosting pupils’ motivation which will prevent disruptive behaviour in class.

“By putting fairness back at the centre of our schools system, Liberal Democrats are ensuring that everyone can get on in life. It will allow children to flourish and will help us build a stronger economy.”

Commenting further, Nick Clegg said:

“Liberal Democrats are building a stronger economy in a fairer society, enabling everyone to get on in life. Education is critical to that.

“The consequences of a pupil being left behind in the basics when they start secondary school can last for the rest of their education.

“The catch-up premium money being handed out to schools today will help pupils catch up with their peers as quickly as possible. Every child should have the chance to succeed and get off on the right foot when they start their new school.”

Liberal Democrats as part of the Coalition Government have been instrumental in securing more Pupil Premium money for Reading in 2013/14.

The cash targets extra money to schools depending on the number of children from disadvantaged backgrounds they have. The Pupil Premium is a major Liberal Democrat priority that is being delivered by the government.

The Pupil Premium will be worth a total of £1.65bn, or £900 per child, in 2013/14. It covers any primary or secondary school pupil that has been registered for Free School Meals in the past six years.

In Reading 259 children will benefit from this extra cash.

Commenting on the new national funding Liberal Democrat Schools Minister, David Laws said:

“Liberal Democrats are building a strong economy and a fair society where everyone can get ahead. Education is absolutely at the heart of that. The Pupil Premium is extra support for the children who need it the most, whether it is catch up classes, one to one tuition, extra IT support whatever the school thinks best. Helping the most disadvantaged children helps every child. Fewer children failing behind means less disruption
in class and a better education for everyone.”

By 2015, the Pupil Premium will be worth a total of £2.5 bn a year to schools in England.

The Pupil Premium was one of four policy priorities that the Liberal Democrats put on the front page of the 2010 General Election manifesto. The others were raising the point at which you start paying income tax to £10,000 to give people on low and middle incomes a £700 tax cut; creating jobs by making Britain greener and measures to clean up politics.

The Pupil Premium was one of the key measures argued for and secured by Liberal Democrats during the coalition negotiations.

Today Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg will announce £8,854,098 to get young people in our part of the South East who are not in employment, education or training (NEET), earning or learning again.
 
As part of Nick Clegg’s Youth Contract, the Coalition Government will, for the first time, target funding through tailored support on a payment-by-results system to 16 and 17-year-olds with no GCSEs at A* – C who are at the highest risk of long-term disengagement.
 
Commenting, Councillor Rebecca Rye, Education spokesperson for the Reading Liberal Democrat Group said:

“Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government are doing the right thing and supporting young people in the South East who have had difficulty finding a job or training when they’ve left school.

“Today’s announcement will ensure they receive personal, targeted support from experts to help them develop the confidence and skills that the need to stay in education or find a job.”

Commenting further, Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg said:

“Sitting at home with nothing to do when you’re so young can knock the stuffing out of you for years. It is a tragedy for the young people involved and a ticking time bomb for the economy and our society as a whole. This problem isn’t new, but in the current economic climate we urgently need to step up efforts to ensure some of our most troubled teenagers have the skills, confidence and opportunities to succeed.
 
“Many of them will have complex problems: truancy, teenage pregnancy, a lack of GCSEs and health problems. So helping them onto their feet will not be without challenges and Government cannot do this alone. But we all have a duty to reach out to the young people who can be hardest to reach. That’s why today I am calling on charities and other organisations at the coal face to work with Government to help tens of thousands of lost teenagers onto a brighter path.”

Information released this week shows that secondary schools in Reading need extra support to help pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds achieve their full potential.

In Reading, only 31.9% of pupils on Free School Meals achieve 5 A*-C grades in their GCSEs, including English and maths.

To turn this around, Liberal Democrat Children’s Minister, Sarah Teather recently announced that from April, schools in Reading will be receiving £3,403,000 as part of the Pupil Premium.

The Pupil Premium gives extra money to schools to support children from disadvantaged backgrounds, for example by providing extra one-to-one tuition, more teaching assistants or after-school activities.

This year, the amount available for the Pupil Premium will be doubled to £1.25bn and this will increase to £2.5bn by 2014-15.

Commenting, Councillor Rebecca Rye, Education spokesperson for the Reading Liberal Democrat Group, said:

“Unfortunately, how wealthy your parents are in Reading has been a deciding factor in a child’s chances for too long. As a Liberal Democrat, I believe we cannot let this continue and that is why we must help children reach their full potential.

“As this data shows, children in Reading who have been eligible for Free School Meals have consistently lower educational attainment than those who have never been eligible. It is unacceptable that we are failing our children in this way.

“I am proud that thanks to Liberal Democrats, the Coalition Government is doing the right thing to end this shameful legacy with the Pupil Premium.

“This is extra money for our schools to support children from less well-off backgrounds. I know this will make a real difference in our schools and for our children’s future”

Commenting further, Liberal Democrat Children’s Minister, Sarah Teather said:

“These figures reveal that children from deprived backgrounds have been let down by previous governments. All too often, children from disadvantaged backgrounds do not get the same opportunities as their more well-off peers, leaving their talents wasted.

“As a Liberal Democrat, I believe we have a duty to ensure we turn this shocking legacy of the last Labour Government around. That is why the Coalition Government is doing the right thing by giving schools extra money to focus on supporting these pupils.

“With the Pupil Premium we are giving schools the resources they need to make a difference. Schools can decide what works best for their pupils, whether it is giving extra tuition to struggling pupils, peer support or helping with additional IT kit. This will help whole classes work better together and move forward faster.”

Sharon Bowles MEP, who represents Reading in the European Parliament, has sent a letter of congratulations to Dr Vitaliy Khutoryanskiy, Reader in Pharmaceutical Materials at the University of Reading’s School of Chemistry, for winning the 2012 McBain Medal.

Named after chemist James William McBain, the McBain Medal is awarded annually by the Royal Society of Chemistry and Society of Chemical Industry to ‘honour a younger scientist who has made a meritorious contribution to colloid and interface science.’

Dr Khutoryanskiy’s research focuses on the development of new materials to help in the administration of drugs, the treatment of wounds, and technology to contain innovative treatments such as proteins, bacteria and living cells such as stem cells, which could all help in the fight against disease.

Sharon, a Chemical Physics graduate of the University of Reading who campaigned to save the university’s Physics Department from closure, said:

“At a time when science teaching at universities is facing cutbacks, it is important to trumpet the achievements of those who continue to strive in the field of scientific research and innovation.

“Sadly, efforts to keep the University of Reading’s Physics Department open were not successful but this award will go some way to highlighting the success of the university, which remains on the cutting edge of science research.

“I am very pleased for Dr. Khutoryanskiy and hope to be there for his Medal lecture in 2013.”

Originally published by Sharon Bowles MEP

The Government has announced that the Pupil Premium will be extended to cover any child that has been registered for Free School Meals (FSM) in the past six years.

For 2012-13, the Premium will be worth £1.25 billion in total.

As a result of this next year, more than half a million additional children will qualify for the Pupil Premium.

These are England’s most disadvantaged pupils, including looked after children, and they are set to benefit from £600 each after the Department for Education announced next year’s Pupil Premium will increase by £112 for each pupil.

• In Reading 4,412 are expected to be eligible for the Pupil Premium, meaning that our schools are set to benefit from an extra £2.7 million pounds to support disadvantaged pupils.

Commenting, Cllr Rebecca Rye said:

“We are delighted that despite very difficult financial times Liberal Democrats in Government have taken the decision to increase spending on the poorest children in our communities in Reading.”

“This will help all children in Reading achieve their full potential regardless of their background.”

“Children who have been eligible for Free School Meals at any point in their school career have consistently lower educational attainment than those who have never been eligible. Of students gaining three As at A-level in 2008, 30 per cent were privately educated, whereas only 0.5 per cent were eligible for Free School Meals.

“That is why thanks to Liberal Democrats, the Coalition Government is doing the right thing by supporting schools with additional money to support children from less well-off backgrounds. This will help whole classes work better together and move forward faster.”

Commenting further, Liberal Democrat Children’s Minister, Sarah Teather said:

“As we come to the end of the second term of the Pupil Premium we are seeing across the country how these extra funds are making a difference. Additional tuition, better IT resources and closer work with parents are all examples of how the Pupil Premium is being used to support the most disadvantaged pupils.

“That’s why I’m so pleased that, next year, we’ll be extending the Pupil Premium to another half a million children, and increasing the money that schools get to £600 per pupil. This means that, as a result of Liberal Democrats in government, more children will get a better start in life”.

Liberal Democrats on Reading Borough Council have welcomed the news that poorest children in Reading will benefit from increased school funding from the Coalition Government via the Pupil Premium.

News of the extra cash comes after Ministers recently announced that the total funding available for the Pupil Premium in 2012-13 will rise to £1.25bn, double the amount in 2011-12. It will rise again each year until 2014-15 when it will be worth £2.5bn.

Evidence shows children from low income families generally do not achieve as well as pupils from more advantaged backgrounds. Schools receive this additional funding on top of the existing school budget to support them in reaching their potential and help schools reduce educational inequalities.

Figures published today by the Department for Education have confirmed that Reading schools with pupils from deprived backgrounds in will benefit from additional funding of £1,589,000.
3,527 children in Reading qualify for extra support via the Pupil Premium.

Reading’s most disadvantaged pupils are set to benefit from an extra £58 each after the Department for Education announced this year’s Pupil Premium will increase to £488 per child receiving free school meals.

Schools receive the extra cash for every child eligible for free school meals (FSMs). The money has been released because fewer-than-expected children have registered for FSMs this year.
Announcing the increased funding, Children’s Minister Sarah Teather MP said:

‘The Pupil Premium will benefit poorer pupils, providing extra money directly for those pupils who need it the most.

We know that just 27 per cent of pupils on free school meals get five good GCSE grades compared with 54 per cent of non-free school meal pupils. This extra funding will help tackle this inequality and enable schools to provide the extra support they need to reach their full potential.’

Cllr Rebecca Rye, Lib Dem Education Spokesperson on Reading Borough Council commented:

“This investment will help ensure all children in Reading reach their full potential – regardless of their background or financial circumstances.

“It will help to tackle Labour’s shocking legacy where the richest 16-year olds are three times as likely to get five good GCSEs as the poorest.

Lib Dems in Reading have welcomed news that the pledge by the Coalition Government to deliver 50,000 additional apprenticeships has been substantially exceeded, official statistics reveal.

Statistics published by the Coalition Government today show over 103,000 additional adult apprenticeship starts over the 2010-11 financial year.

Reading Borough Council recently confirmed that under Coalition administration Reading led the way on apprenticeships in the South East.

Cllr Daisy Benson, Group Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Reading Borough Council said:

“Expanding the number of apprenticeships was a key component of the Liberal Democrat manifesto at the last General Election and we are delighted to see this longstanding Lib Dem policy now becoming a reality locally as well as nationally.”

“By the end of this Parliament, the Government is committed to supporting an additional 250,000 apprenticeships, compared to the previous Government’s plans – this will be the  biggest increase in UK history.”

“Hundreds of young people in Reading have already benefited from access to an apprenticeships and this news illustrates the real commitment from Business Secretary Vince Cable and the Coalition government to help young people on to the career ladder.”

“The previous coalition administration of the Council helped deliver an addition 310 apprenticeships for local youngsters. We will be calling on the Labour administration maintain and extend these opportunities for young people.”

Cllr Rebecca Rye, Lib Dem Policy Advisor on Education, and Cllr Kirsten Bayes, Deputy Leader of Reading Borough Council have welcomed additional investment in children from the poorest backgrounds by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg yesterday announced that the Coalition Government will spend an extra £7bn on giving the poorest children a better start in life.

Commenting Cllr Rebecca Rye said:

“For too long for children living in Reading where you live has determined how well you are likely to perform at School.  This is deeply unfair and it is something Labour failed to tackle after 13 years in power.”

“The Pupil Premium means real investment in the poorest children in our community helping them get the best possible start in life.”

Councillor Kirsten Bayes, Deputy Leader of Reading Borough Council and Group Leader of the Lib Dems on Reading Borough Council added:

“The Pupil Premium is about promoting a fairer society and it was a key plank of our manifesto at the last election.

“We warmly welcome the commitment by the Coalition Government in Reading’s children particularly those from disadvantaged background. We will work hard with the government to ensure local children benefit.”

There is now less than eight months to save a new generation of young people from huge increases in university tuition fees, according to Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for Reading East, Cllr Gareth Epps.

Gareth was speaking at a cross-party debate organised by Reading University Liberal Democrats on Thursday (15 October) on campus. The remarks come after the Conservatives suggested last week they will increase tuition fees to £7,000 if they take power at the next general election, which has to be held by next June.

That will see tuition fees for undergraduates more than double. Currently there is a cap of £3,300 in England and Wales. Peter Mandelson has already suggested that Labour will allow universities to charge more than at present if re-elected – though both Labour and the Tories are sheltering behind a proposed review of fees, too scared to push through the changes they want before June.

Only the Liberal Democrats will scrap tuition fees. The party believes university education should be free and everyone who has the ability should be able to go – and not be put off by the cost.

Reading University’s Liberal Democrats – the biggest and most active political group on campus – compiled a “Debtbusters” video which was launched at the debate. Interviews with 100 randomly selected students at the University showed a total debt of £1,525,700.

Gareth says: “I look around Reading and I see and meet people returning from university with no job and a bank balance tens of thousands of pounds in the red. What sort of message is that?

Rob Wilson was personally responsible for ending the Conservatives’ brief commitment to free tuition. The choice is clear: the people of Reading East can vote for a politician who will condemn a generation of youngsters or for the Liberal Democrats who will make education free again, giving young people the best possible start.”

Cllr Prue Bray, Liberal Democrat candidate for Wokingham constituency which covers half of the University campus, says:
“Labour and now the Tories are showing their true colours. They want to saddle them with staggering amounts of debt. One of the Conservative MPs serving Reading University, John Redwood has long been in favour of increasing tuition fees. I have challenged him to make clear his and his party’s views on student finance to his electorate.”

Mark Whiley, President of Reading University Liberal Democrats, commented:-
“Last week we organised a well-attended cross-party debate on Higher Education Funding with both Gareth Epps and Anneliese Dodds. From those attending it is clear there is still only one party that is committed to giving the choice of a University education based upon acumen and skills, rather than the ability to pay.

Labour and the Conservatives continue to support the broken tuition fees system and bow down to pressures from University bodies to increase the tuition cap – seeing students get into deeper debt isn’t considered an issue for them. The Tories left an empty chair for the debate, so shallow is their vision for students.

Selling off the Student Loans Portfolio to private firms or more than doubling the cap to £7,000 will bring young people into even larger sums of debt than the present average of £20,000 per student. You can only change this by voting Liberal Democrat.”

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