Shadow Schools Minister and Portsmouth South Labour MP, Stephen Morgan, visited two Isle of Wight schools with local Labour councillor, Richard Quigley.
The Portsmouth MP joined Labour’s councillor for Cowes North in a visit to the Island Learning Centre (ILC), a Pupil Referral Unit providing specialised alternative provision for some of the most vulnerable students on the Isle of Wight.
The centre works with primary and secondary aged (5 – 16) students who require additional help with their social, emotional, or mental health needs.
The pair also visited Christ the King College – one of two faith based schools on the Island
A variety of issues raised
The Labour representatives listened to issues and concerns raised by teachers and pupils, including issues around recruitment and retention of staff; mental wellbeing in schools; support for children with SEND and; increasing workload without additional resources.
It comes following the government’s recent publication of its Education White Paper and its initial plans for SEND reform, which Labour said lacked the ‘ambition and ideas’ children to need to catch-up in their learning and ensure attainment gaps do not further widen.
Making sure every child leaves education ‘job-ready and life-ready’
Labour has said it would make sure every child leaves education ‘job-ready and life-ready’ and would introduce a Children’s Recovery Plan that would deliver:
- Small group tutoring for all who need it
- Breakfast clubs and activities for every child
- Quality mental health support for children in every school
- Continued professional development for teachers to support pupils to catch up on lost learning, and
- Targeted extra investment from early years to further education to support young people who struggled most with learning in lockdown
Quigley: Look forward to welcoming more Shadow ministers in the future
Cllr Quigley said,
“Both schools gave us a fantastically warm welcome, with great questions from the sixth formers at Christ the King. What is clear, is that even before the pandemic, Island teachers, teaching assistants and support staff were working their socks off to provide pupils with the best education, despite the lowest level of per pupil funding for ten years.
“Stephen’s visit is recognition of the issues coastal areas have with education, but also recognition of the Island itself. I look forward to welcoming more Shadow ministers in the future.”
Morgan: A tireless champion for the community
The Shadow Schools Minister and Member of Parliament for Portsmouth South, Stephen Morgan MP, said,
“It’s been really useful to join Cllr Quigley in listening to issues and concerns impacting schools, staff and pupils on the Isle of Wight.
“It’s clear teachers here care deeply about their students’ learning, but the Government are holding them back from getting the support they need and deserve.
“I know the value of having more Labour councillors on the local council and Richard has been a tireless champion for their community, fighting on the issues that matter to them.”
News shared by Richard in his own words. Ed
