Latest news with #BridgetPhillipson
BBC News
14 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Bridget Phillipson says Kent schools to 'absolutely' get funding
The education secretary has said schools in the South East will "absolutely" get the funding required for new buildings and Phillipson and the Chancellor Rachel Reeves paid a visit to a school in Kent on Thursday to announce an additional £20bn to expand the Schools Building Programme over the next the secretary of state did not identify which schools in the South East would be joining the expanded programme, saying: "We'll work through all of that process... we want to make sure we're identifying the schools that have the greatest need."Opposition politicians in the area accused her of not understanding the pressures on schools. Wrotham School, near Sevenoaks, was selected by the previous Conservative government to join the scheme in 2021, and work on the new buildings is due to finish in teachers say funding announced by the Labour government has secured the future of the whether she could guarantee schools in the region would be part of the new programme, she replied: "Absolutely, we'll make sure that the South East gets the funding that's required in order not just to rebuild schools, but also to put money into maintenance at the schools that are already there, but need extra support too." More than 500 schools are part of the existing Schools Building Programme. The government says the funding announced on Thursday will allow the re-build of a further 250 announcement is part of the 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy, which sets out the government's long-term plan for economic, housing and social comes after last week's Spending Review, in which the chancellor was criticised by some South East politicians for "ignoring" the region. 'Deprivation and need' The deputy leader of East Sussex County Council, Nick Bennett, said: "I don't think she got lower than Milton Keynes."I'm not sure they've really got some of the pressures around deprivation and need around health and social issues that there is in [Sussex]."Responding to criticism the South East is being neglected, Phillipson said the government wanted to see "good, strong growth right across the country".She said she wanted to see "brilliant opportunities for our children and job opportunities being created"."That's why we'll make sure that there are great new schools being rebuilt in the South East and right across England," she added.
Daily Mirror
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Mums and dads given firm 'responsibility' warning over term-time holidays
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson told The Mirror that parents have a 'responsibility' to their kids' classmates not to take them out of school during term time A minister pleaded with parents not to take their kids out of school early for the summer holidays - saying they have a "responsibility" to their classmates. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson told The Mirror that while she understands families wanting a break together, they must think of others. She said: "If children are not in school, that doesn't just have an impact on your own child, it has an impact on the whole class. "Because what teachers tell me is that they have to cover lessons over again to help children with their catch up." And she added: "If parents then choose to take their child on termtime holidays that does have knock on consequences for everyone. "And I think it's about our responsibility not just to our own children, but our responsibility to the whole school community." Ms Phillipson has previously said she would talk to travel chiefs about pricing, while her Cabinet colleague Heidi Alexander urged airlines to "do the right thing". Last year a record 443,000 fines were issued to parents taking their children out of school during term time to go on holiday - a 53% increase since before Covid. This is despite school absence fines in England going up from £60 to £80 last September - rising to £160 for a second offence within three years. But Ms Phillipson said there are "green shoots" suggesting school absences are dropping. Analysis last year found holiday package to Greece cost £748 in term time and £1,023 in the school break. And a package to Spain cost £925 in term time and £1,179 during the school holidays. In May Transport Secretary Ms Alexander admitted there was little the Government could do to force travel firms to drive down fares. Ms Alexander told The Mirror: "Airline pricing is a matter for the airlines. And I think it's a very difficult thing for the government to interfere in. We don't have any intention of interfering in those decisions of private companies, but I can understand the frustration of parents when they are looking at the comparative costs of holidays in school holidays and school holidays. "I would ask the travel industry to consider doing the right thing. But I think there are very limited levers for Government to intervene directly in this."
Daily Mirror
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Two-child benefit cap attacked by Labour minister in hint it could be scrapped
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, co-chair of the Government's Child Poverty Task Force, said the two-child benefit limit would not have been brought in under Labour and said it is 'clear' it is having an impact A Labour frontbencher has attacked the impact of the two-child benefit limit - in the strongest hint yet it could be ripped up. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said it "was not something that a Labour government would have introduced" before saying it was "clear" it had an impact on child poverty. Ms Phillipson, who co-chairs the Government's Child Poverty Task Force, said she is looking at "every way in which can lift more children out of poverty". Ministers face growing calls to tear up the controversial policy, which restricts Child Tax Credit and Universal Credit to the first two children in a household. Ms Phillipson said: "The two child limit was not something that a Labour government would have introduced. "It was a measure introduced by the Conservative Party. It's clear it's had a significant impact.." The Education Secretary said she and Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, her fellow co-chair, are looking at how social security measures can bring rates down. She said: "As part of the work that I'm doing together with the Work and Pensions Secretary, we're looking at every way in which we can lift more children out of poverty. "So all areas are under consideration, including social security measures." Think-tank the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has estimated that half a million children could be lifted out of poverty if the two-child limit was scrapped. The policy, drawn up by Tory austerity Chancellor George Osborne, came into effect in 2017. Ms Phillipson said: "Child poverty is a scar on this country it devastates childrens' life chances but it damages all of us and we're all poorer as a result of so many children growing up in poverty." The Government's strategy was expected to be presented in the spring, but is now not set to be released until later this year. "We'll publish the child poverty strategy later this year. We want to make sure it's thorough and comprehensive and addresses all of the challenges we face, but also demonstrates clear Government action to bring down child poverty. "Of course, we're not waiting around for the child poverty strategy. I was delighted to be able to announce the expansion of free school meals eligibility to all families on Universal Credit, and that will lift at least 200,000 children out of poverty. "It will benefit more than half a million children, and it puts money directly back in the parents pockets. So that is I'm delighted we were able to deliver that, because I know it will make a really big difference to parents, to children, but also to schools as well, because what they tell me is that the damage that poverty causes affects children's ability to learn. "So that is the difference that a Labour Government is able to make within the first year." Ms Phillipson also pointed to free breakfast clubs being rolled out across the country, as well as school-based nurseries providing more childcare places, and a cut in the cost of school uniforms. "These are all practical measures that will help parents, but also will deliver better outcomes for children," she said. But the Government faces criticism after its own data suggested 50,000 children could be pushed into relative poverty by 2030 as a result of welfare cuts. " What the data doesn't take into account is the extra support that we're putting in place around supporting people back into work," she said. "It also doesn't account for the changes that we've made around free school meals. "So as a government, we are committed to bringing down the number of children growing up in poverty."
Daily Mirror
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Kids taught in cupboards as brutal school reality laid bare after neglect
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said she was appalled at the lack of investment in schools as she vowed a huge cash injection would finally turn things around Labour's education chief has voiced her anger at seeing children being taught in stationery cupboards and noisy dinner halls because schools are in a state of disrepair. Bridget Phillipson told The Mirror that inadequate buildings have a "profound" impact on young learners, who say they struggle in class as a result. Her remarks came as the Government announced a huge cash boost to crumbling schools, hospitals and courts to tackle years of neglect. Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveiled a 10-year plan to address the "decay that has seeped into our everyday lives" - with 750 schools in England set for a rebuild. Education Secretary Ms Phillipson said she was appalled by the disruption the discovery of dodgy concrete had caused two years ago, as well as neglect in schools across the country. More than 100 school buildings had to be closed after reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) - which was used for decades to save cash - was found, sparking fears of imminent collapse. Ms Phillipson said: "I visited a number of schools that were affected by RAAC, but also in schools that were struggling with completely inadequate buildings. "The impact that that had was children having lessons in a stationery cupboard that had to be converted into a classroom, a situation where the dining hall had to be given over to become a maths classroom because the maths block was out of action. "All of that has a profound impact on children's ability to learn." And describing the impact on kids she said: "The children find it disruptive. "And what they've told me is that if you're learning in a very hot, overcrowded environment, that makes it really hard to learn and to concentrate. "It makes it hard for teachers to deliver a brilliant education as well. My experience growing up was also spending quite a lot of my time in secondary schooling in portacabins. "You kept your coat on in the winter because it was so cold, and in the summer it was absolutely boiling. And that just made it very hard to learn. It's still happening." The Government announced a £38billion capital boost for England's schools by the end of the decade. Maintenance funding for schools will also rise to nearly £3billion a year by 2035. Ms Phillipson said she is confident that all RAAC cases have been identified and dealt with. She said: "I think we all recognise that it's completely unacceptable that so many children ended up going to schools that were literally being propped up by steel girders.. "There can be no more defining image of the last government than children sat in classrooms with props to stop the ceiling from falling in. "But we've got to move beyond that and not just deal with the immediate problems of decay, but also to look at a brighter future for children as well." The Government says its 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy will create a jobs boost and drive investment into the UK. The Education Secretary was yesterday(THUR) joined by Ms Reeves on a visit to Wrotham School in Kent, which is undergoing a £42million rebuild. Headteacher Michael Cater told The Mirror investment in modern facilities has a big impact on pupils. "It shows we respect their education," he said. As well as schools investment the Government has vowed to eliminate reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) from NHS buildings. Prisons in England and Wales will be awarded at least £600million a year to improve safety and security amid growing alarm in the justice sector. There will also be cash for "enhanced" law courts to ensure cases are dealt with faster. Ms Reeves said: "Infrastructure is crucial to unlocking growth across the country, but for too long investment has been squeezed. "Crumbling public buildings are a sign of the decay that has seeped into our everyday lives because of a total failure to plan and invest." TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: 'Britain has long been crying out for a serious, long-term infrastructure plan. Across our schools, hospitals, reservoirs and railways we have invested too little for too long. 'We have a vital opportunity to rebuild our country after more than a decade of Conservative mismanagement and neglect. We must grab it with both hands."
Telegraph
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Winchester College head criticises ‘patronising' Phillipson
The head of Winchester College has criticised Bridget Phillipson over Thank a Teacher Day. Elizabeth Stone took aim at the Education Secretary's policies, saying the amount of red tape in education was 'so excessive'. On Wednesday, Ms Phillipson released a video paying tribute to the profession by giving a 'massive thank you' to teachers across Britain. In it, she spoke to a number of primary school children, asking them who their favourite teacher was. The video finished with her saying how she 'knows the difference that brilliant teachers make' and how the Government's recruitment drive would 'set up all of our children to achieve and thrive'. "What difference do you think teachers make?" This #ThankATeacherDay Education Secretary @bphillipsonMP asked pupils at Lordship Farm Primary School about their brilliant teachers. We're getting more teachers in classrooms, supporting children, through our Plan for Change. — Department for Education (@educationgovuk) June 18, 2025 The day of recognition was also announced in an email alongside a video montage featuring a host of famous faces – including the likes of Dame Helen Mirren, Alan Titchmarsh, Michael Morpurgo and Ms Phillipson herself – who all thanked an old teacher. In her accompanying email, Ms Phillipson wrote: 'Think about the young lives you're helping to shape. Think about the brighter futures you're helping to build. 'And know that you have the thanks of the entire country – today, and every day.' However, its release was criticised by Ms Stone, the head of the independent boarding school in Hampshire. She labelled it 'marketing' from a 'political leader whose work is not exactly making the lives of thousands of pupils and teachers easier'. The Australian teacher claimed that serious professionals would be 'unmoved' by the DfE's message of appreciation. Posting on social media, she said: 'I get it. Not a lot of money to spend on education, so perhaps it's worth attempting to raise morale by emailing a video. 'Even if some find it patronising, there's no real harm done.' She continued: 'But here's another idea that requires little [to] no government spending and could really make a difference to teachers: slash the layers of over-regulation and the culture of excessive compliance and risk-aversion in schools.' Ms Stone said teachers would love to be paid more, but would like 'workload relief' just as much, and in some cases more. 'The regulatory/compliance regime in education is now so excessive that it acts, in my opinion, to the detriment of the profession and of the children we serve,' she added. 'Without spending a penny on buildings or salaries, this government could bring about massive improvement for the profession.' The Government is embroiled in a High Court battle over its VAT policy after parent groups argued the tax raid is discriminatory. Earlier this year, the Independent Schools Council accused ministers of having 'underestimated' the impact of its controversial VAT tax policy, which the Government hopes will raise £1.8 billion a year by the end of the decade. High Court documents obtained by The Telegraph previously revealed that Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, was warned Labour's levy on fees could cause an additional 100 private schools to shut over the next three years – something the Government had never admitted in public. Ministers toyed with a later start date for the tax but ultimately decided to go with the course of action labelled by civil servants as 'the most disruptive' to 'maximise revenue'.
