Andrew Dismore

In May 2010, when I was still Labour MP for Hendon, there were no infant  school age children in Barnet  learning  in oversized classes. New figures show   there are now 1,343 Barnet infant school children  sitting  in overcrowded classrooms of  more than 30 pupils, at a time that is vital  to their future development and progress.  Barnet children are paying the price of the Conservatives’ dogma.

Before the General Election, David Cameron and Barnet’s Conservative MPs promised “small schools with smaller class sizes”. This is yet another broken promise from them.

The answer is not yet more of Michael Gove’s lottery for  free schools, which mushroom in places where they are not required and use unqualified people as teachers  and so popular with Barnet Conservatives, but proper forward planning and co-ordination  to ensure that new schools and classrooms go where they are needed. After all, the council know how roughly many children they must find places for 4 years ahead, from the birth registrations for which they are in charge. 

If I am elected as MP for Hendon next year  I will work with the next Labour Government to  prioritise new school places where they are needed, to have rigorous local oversight of schools and to ensure that all teachers have or are working towards qualified teacher status.

yours sincerely

Andrew Dismore,

Labour London Assembly Member and

Parliamentary candidate for Hendon

79 the Burroughs

London

NW4 4AX