Jul272017

More than half a million pupils are now crammed into supersize classrooms

Labour

Labour
today publishes analysis of overcrowding in English primary schools with more
than half a million pupils being taught in super-size classes. It reveals:

●      542,679 children are now in
super-size classes in primary school, as class-sizes continue to rise

●      39,000 primary pupils are in
classes of over 36 pupils and 16,571 are now in class sizes of at least 40

●      The mounting pressure on school
places is now starting to hit secondary schools, with figures showing an
increase in the number of pupils in very large classes in the last year

●      The South East and North West are
the two worst hit areas with latest figures showing over 90,000 primary school
pupils in classes over 30

●      The number of infant school
children (between the age of 5 and 7 years) in classes over 30 has almost
trebled since 2010

Commenting
on the figures, Shadow Schools Minister, Mike Kane, said:

“These
figures expose seven years of Tory failure in our schools. The number of pupils
being taught in super-sized classes is skyrocketing while schools face the
first real terms cuts to their budgets in a generation.

“This
situation is unsustainable. If the Tories wanted to give every child the
education they deserve they would ensure that children were not crammed into
super-sized classes.

“A Labour
Government would ensure that schools are built where they are needed, and cap
class sizes at 30 for all primary school pupils.”

Jul272017

News story: Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) commissioned by government

HM Government

The Home Office has today commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to report on the impact on the UK labour market of the UK’s exit from the European Union and how the UK’s immigration system should be aligned with a modern industrial strategy.

Responding to the commission the Chair of the MAC, Professor Alan Manning, said:

This is an important and extensive commission and the MAC welcome the opportunity to contribute to the UK’s knowledge base in this area at this critical time.

The MAC will research and analyse the areas covered by the questions using all available data sources, using both internal and external analysts and expertise.

We are keen to work with stakeholders to explore the issues encompassed by this commission and will shortly produce a call for evidence setting out how stakeholders can get involved.

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) is an independent public body that provides transparent, independent and evidence-based advice to the government on migration issues.

The government has set a deadline of September 2018 to report back on the commission. The MAC will consider producing interim responses for the government to ensure the report can support policy development

In the next few weeks the MAC will produce a call for evidence, which will be available on the MAC website. The MAC will engage with government, business, trade unions and other interested parties to ensure a high quality evidence based response to the commission.