A bigger effort required to Raise Educational Standards

St John’s C of E Primary School and St Mary’s C of E Primary School have been put into ‘Special Measures’ after Ofsted reports undertaken in May. I believe extra financial resources are required to help these school succeed. Certainly in the short and medium term, St John’s and St Mary’s will require more money for school services. More teachers, teaching assistants and staff would perhaps help the situation, providing help for teachers under pressure.
Revenue for schools is controlled by County Hall (Worcestershire County Council), and the Education Service has a difficult job in allocating sufficient and fair financial resources between our schools. The Oftsed reports will be acted on as a priority, presumably even before the start of the new school year in September.
I would insist that the remedial measures and extra finance are underwritten to ensure the raising of educational standards, and made permanent. We need more than just a quick and temporary fix. It is relatively easy to work out which other of our local schools might also fit into the category of requiring extra financial help for the levels of staffing required to ensure education success.
Now for the politics! The Labour Government is providing up to £180million for a schools re-building programme in Wyre Forest. The Conservatives control County Hall and educational revenue spend. Let’s have a bigger effort from those political leaders to raise education standards at St John’s and St Mary’s and all other schools in Wyre Forest and Worcestershire.

Kidderminster Hospital

I’m very pleased that Cookley Ward is being refurbished and the patients having more comfort and privacy. Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust received £100,000 from the ‘NHS Privacy and Dignity Fund’ for Redditch and Worcester Hospitals as well. At Kidderminster, the Cookley Ward will be improved regarding provision of separate accomodation for men and women. As a Kidderminster Hospital Visitor to patients in ‘A’ Block GP Community Ward, I can say that similar work is also being undertaken there.
We want the very best for our patients, many of whom have paid their taxes for the NHS for 30, 40, and even 50 years. Staff ensure their time at Kidderminster Hospital has dignity and care provided in a very friendly manner. The NHS remains Labour’s greatest achievement.