Tag: education

1 Comment

Teacher numbers row – Labour/Tory councils play politics with billions in usable reserves and risk the best pupil-teacher ratios in the UK

johnrobertson834

BBC Scotland, still headlining and picturing the SNP Education Secretary to suggest it’s all about her actions and putting pupils’ education at risk, while ignoring the facts. First: Pupil to teacher ratios in maintained schools were lowest in Scotland (13.2) and similar in Northern Ireland (17.4), England (18.0) and Wales (18.4).1 That’s a huge percentage difference in 54 000 teachers, meaning several thousand more teachers per head of population in Scotland. It would take massive cuts, of the kind not in question, to change that significantly. Second, Scotland’s local authorities are sitting on massive usable reserves, kept for just this kind … Continue reading Teacher numbers row – Labour/Tory councils play politics with billions in usable reserves and risk the best pupil-teacher ratios in the UK

7 Comments

What they don’t want you to know about in the ‘teacher numbers row’

johnrobertson834

By Professor John Robertson OBA Headlining on BBC Scotland today: The Scottish government has withheld £145.5m in funding to councils because of a row over teacher numbers. It says the money has been earmarked to maintain teacher jobs, but local government body Cosla disagrees with the ringfencing. Most Scottish councils are looking at education cuts – including proposals to reduce learning hours, school buses, and classroom assistants – but only some, including Glasgow, have reduced teacher numbers. The important detail and context which BBC Scotland, the Herald and Scotsman never tell you: From 2017 to 2023, the number of pupils in … Continue reading What they don’t want you to know about in the ‘teacher numbers row’

1 Comment

Welsh Labour’s total incompetence as one school has to teach maths in classes of 60!

johnrobertson834

By Professor John Robertson OBA From Wales Online, yesterday: A Welsh secondary school has seen class sizes for maths lessons swell to 60 pupils due to a teacher shortage. Governors have been left “begging” for help according to a former top councillor. Pupils in years seven, eight, and nine [11 to 14 year-olds]at Caldicot Comprehensive are being taught maths in classes of 60 students at a time owing to a national shortage of specialist teachers, according to the head teacher. The situation was highlighted by councillor Rachel Garrick who was a member of the ruling Labour cabinet at Monmouthshire County Council until the beginning of … Continue reading Welsh Labour’s total incompetence as one school has to teach maths in classes of 60!

12 Comments

The two-child benefit cap:  will it prove an ethical dilemma for Kirsty McNeill MP, Labour’s new Under Secretary of State for Scotland and former Director of Save the Children?

johnrobertson834

By stewartb One of the most conspicuous examples of a Labour MP shifting their stance on the urgency of reducing child poverty – specifically on the urgency of abolishing the two-child benefit cap – must surely be that of Kirsty McNeill, the new member of parliament for Midlothian and significantly, the Under Secretary of State for Scotland. Prior to being elected, Ms McNeill was Executive Director of Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns at Save the Children. In reading what follows, bear in mind Ms McNeill’s job title with this major charity operating in the UK and internationally – note ‘policy’, note … Continue reading The two-child benefit cap:  will it prove an ethical dilemma for Kirsty McNeill MP, Labour’s new Under Secretary of State for Scotland and former Director of Save the Children?

4 Comments

A lesson for any tempted to vote Labour in Holyrood 2026 – Researchers reveal the policy supported by Scottish Labour causes children to go hungry

johnrobertson834

Labour’s Westminster House Jock and North British branches celebrate English Labour’s election victory under their shared flag, before going on to vote to keep the Dead Conservative’s two-child benefit cap, shown by the IFS to increase child poverty levels. Not only has the Institute for Fiscal Studies proved that the two-child benefit cap is the main cause of child poverty in the UK but today, we read in the Guardian: Families hit by the two-child benefit cap are much more likely to go hungry, skip meals or be unable to afford to eat healthily, according to new data which shows … Continue reading A lesson for any tempted to vote Labour in Holyrood 2026 – Researchers reveal the policy supported by Scottish Labour causes children to go hungry

10 Comments

New Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock Labour MP betrays all she claims to stand for and votes to keep the cruel two child benefit cap and her £91K job

johnrobertson834

Before the 2024 General Election in the local Ayrshire newspapers: Elaine Stewart, Labour candidate said: “As someone who works daily with children and young people in some of the affected communities, I can assure you that reason I am standing is to ensure that the child poverty is high on the agenda on a daily basis. “I run food banks and, to be perfectly honest, children and young people should not be eating from this form of support on a daily basis. “Addressing child poverty in Scotland requires a sustained, collaborative effort across various sectors and levels of government, with … Continue reading New Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock Labour MP betrays all she claims to stand for and votes to keep the cruel two child benefit cap and her £91K job

5 Comments

Already a better society after 17 years of SNP rule and Scottish universities buck UK trend to attract more not fewer international students

johnrobertson834

In the Guardian today, their Education editor daft enough to to use a Glasgow Uni shot, writes: UK universities face financial turmoil as figures from the Home Office show plunging numbers of international students applying for courses starting in the next academic year. Applications for sponsored study visas have fallen by 40%, suggesting the visa restrictions applied by the previous government continue to hamper recruitment. The Home Office received 28,200 applications last month, compared with 38,900 in June 2023. But three days ago, BBC Scotland had: Net migration to Scotland more than doubled in the year between 2021 and 2022 – up to … Continue reading Already a better society after 17 years of SNP rule and Scottish universities buck UK trend to attract more not fewer international students

5 Comments

Scots Unison leader betrays her members, who benefit most from the SNP’s progressive policies, for political gain

johnrobertson834

Christine McAnea, UK Labour Party member and current General Secretary of UNISON, has just written to members to say: A new dawn for public services – Investing in public services is more than just a budgetary choice; it’s a moral duty. High-quality public services are the foundation of a fair and just society. With Labour in charge, we have the chance to build a more equitable and prosperous future for everyone in the UK. McAnea, former Communist Party Member, earns £119,513 with benefits of £12,756, plus pension contributions and employer’s national insurance contributions that are not publicly available. With Labour … Continue reading Scots Unison leader betrays her members, who benefit most from the SNP’s progressive policies, for political gain

6 Comments

Labour’s passivity on child poverty – ‘the country ‘can’t afford’ to end it

johnrobertson834

By stewartb In the news article referenced below on the increasing rates of child poverty in NE England, we learn of the Labour Party’s considered position – essentially the ‘country’, the UK can’t afford to end the child poverty associated with the Tories’ two child benefit cap! Source: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/labours-promise-reverse-north-east-190000891.html – ‘‘Labour’s promise to reverse North East child poverty rise and cut life expectancy gap’ In the article we learn: ‘New analysis published today [Friday] by the TUC has revealed a 44 per cent increase in child poverty among working households in the region – with more than one in four children in working households … Continue reading Labour’s passivity on child poverty – ‘the country ‘can’t afford’ to end it

3 Comments

Schools – IFS has already exposed Labour’s meanness and SNP record in funding 18% above the rest of the UK

johnrobertson834

Labour must hate the IFS. In the last few day’s they’ve pinned £18bn of cuts on them. A year ago……see below. The Scottish Government spends £4.2 billion on education and skills. Anas Sarwar has promised another £150 million or only 3.5% more but it is already 18% higher than in the rest of the UK. From the IFS last year: In the most recent year (2022–23), school spending per pupil in Scotland was over £8,500. This is over 18% or £1,300 higher than the level seen in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, all around £7,200 per pupil. School spending per … Continue reading Schools – IFS has already exposed Labour’s meanness and SNP record in funding 18% above the rest of the UK