My Thoughts On - Fox Hunting

This might seem quite a specific topic for a blog post, but since I've been asked the following question numerous times, I just want to make it very clear:

If there was a parliamentary vote on the re-introduction of fox hunting I would vote: No.

I hope that satisfies anyone who was wondering.

The Election Process - Part 4 - Hustings

I’ve been through my first hustings experience and “experience” is the correct word. The hottest day of the year and I arrive direct from work; I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have butterflies on the drive to the venue.

The thing is that you have no idea what is going to be asked. I was quite lucky that this one was organised by a group focused on getting a fair deal for schools in West Sussex, my specialist subject, even if I do say so myself.

I met all the candidates beforehand and they were a really nice bunch, interested in getting their message across rather than bickering over party politics, which is a pet hate of mine and a small part of the reason I’m standing as I believe that the bickering parliament and the media helps no-one, least of all the constituents who vote for the squabbling MPs.

In case you were wondering, we were not pre-warned about the questions that were asked and had to answer on the spot; not as easy as it might seem and fair play to my fellow candidates as they were very good, although I felt I held my own. Only the audience can give an accurate answer I suppose.

I actually enjoyed the experience and thank the organisers (FAST – Future Adur Schools Team) for allowing me to attend and speak. I’d also like to thank the audience who supplied some great questions; I only hope I did them justice.

#VoteLutters

The Election Process - Part 3

Since I had my nomination accepted it has been pretty “full on”. I have had press interviews with questions that I need to have a coherent answer for immediately. I would like to think I have handled myself reasonably well, but that’s not for me to decide.

Society has got to a stage where it is acceptable to speak one’s mind without considering the consequences; whilst this seems a good idea initially, this has a detrimental effect on too many people to make it truly acceptable. 

It also seems that a section of society deems you “fair game” if you decide to have a public or political persona. A thick skin is a must with attitudes like this in existence, and as one interviewer said, “that’s par for the course in this game”. 

It might be at the moment but does it have to be? Those who go into politics should go in to it to make their constituency a better place and should be judged on their ability to do so. However, we are in a situation where politics is dominated by careerists who have the thickest skin, the most ambitious plans and the largest budget.

I have spent every evening designing posters and other materials to promote my campaign, each of which must contain my constituency headquarters’ address and the details of the company who have printed them.

I’ve just got to work out how to get them delivered now; there is access to a free mail drop from Royal Mail, but with limited time I’m not sure how easy this will be; a fresh pair of trainers and a packed lunch will be the order of the day.

Saying that I have had many offers from supporters to help deliver leaflets which is fantastic!

Hustings start tomorrow; I shall update on that experience...

My Thoughts On: Education Funding

A synopsis:

3000 headteachers from 14 counties have written to parents to highlight some issues that they may want to ask their electoral candidates about during the campaign. They include:

• £3bn cut in funding for schools.
• The difficulty attracting quality teachers.
• The difficulty recruiting in some subject areas.

They haven’t mentioned the £6bn spent, over the market rate, on potential free school sites because they are the preferred school type of this government.

They haven’t mentioned that the conditions (marking, planning, continual exam tinkering) teachers work under are driving them away, with recruitment in some subject areas not hitting targets for 5 years in a row.

Party politics is harming our children’s education and that is a major part of why I am standing as independent candidate in this election.

If you want to read the whole article, then read on.

All my thoughts:

My daughter’s school, as well as around 3000 other schools from 14 counties, have sent a letter to all their parents explaining why schools are facing financial difficulties.

The government and Department for Education are claiming two things:

1. Education funding is at record levels.
2. They are introducing a “Fairer Funding Formula” to redistribute the record funding more equally around the country.

Along with the letter there is a list of suggestions that parents can challenge parliamentary candidates with. These include, in no particular order:

• £3bn being withdrawn from the schools budget in England, which will mean a fall of around £400 per pupil per year for many school according to the banners many schools have hanging on their gate.
• Recruitment, especially in subjects such as Maths, Science, English and Computer Science is becoming problematic as schools can’t compete financially with business for these teachers’ skills.
• Class sizes increasing as the number of teachers a school can afford are falling.
• Reduction in the subjects a school can offer meaning that students find it increasingly difficult to choose an education path that enthuses them.
• Extra-curricular activities can no longer run as schools must save money.

These are all extremely valid and this issue is a major driver behind my decision to stand as an independent candidate in this election. What is not included is the following:

• The Department for Education have spent £6bn on paying over the odds for potential free school sites. These schools don’t actually exist, but £6bn has been spent because the current government like free schools. Free schools can be very good; they can also be very bad (some have been forcibly closed). Free schools have just as much chance of succeeding as any other type of school but cost, according to the National Audit Office, around double what other schools cost.
• Increased class sizes mean extra work (marking, setting tasks and so on) for teachers who are already hard to recruit. Whilst the hours may seem great (and the holidays of course) many hours outside of the perceived school day are taken up with marking, planning and preparation with this becoming an ever increasing issue as class size grow, and remember this happens for no extra pay and this eats in to family and social life.
• With diminished funds to attract staff the only teachers schools can afford are inexperienced ones because they are at the lower end of the pay scale. Inexperienced teachers can be brilliant but the general consensus in the profession is that 10 years experience produces a “good” or “outstanding” teacher.
• The continual changes in curriculum based upon nothing other than the current incumbent of Minister for Education’s preferences is demoralising for teachers and is another reason why schools are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit.
• Targets in teacher training for maths, physics and design technology have not been met in 5 years, yet figures are boosted by over-recruitment in other subjects meaning that maths, physics and design technology lessons are regularly taught by non-specialists.

Party politicians only give the version of facts that favours their party’s policy, and omit facts that show them in a poor light, therefore the general public never get the complete story. This doesn’t help anyone.

This is why we need independent candidates, if only to keep party politicians honest.