News story

2nd March 2005

Thumbs up for Local Schools!

A survey of the views of local families by Northavon Steve Webb has found high levels of satisfaction with local schools but a clear demand for smaller class sizes, especially in the junior age ranges. The Lib Dem MP surveyed households across his constituency about a range of education issues in the second half of last year and received nearly 2,000 survey forms in response. A full analysis of the replies has now been completed, and a number of key findings emerged:

* five out of six parents rated their child's education as "excellent" or "good"; considerable concerns were however expressed about provision for children with Special Educational Needs, with three quarters of those expressing a view saying they were unhappy and wanted better funding and earlier support;

* when asked what would most improve their child's education, parents and grandparents said the single biggest factor would be smaller classes; other top answers included better discipline and proper funding; there was very widespread backing for Steve Webb's ongoing campaigning for a better funding deal for South Gloucestershire;

* teachers and teaching assistants who responded said that the things that would most improve their ability to do their job properly was proper funding and a cut in paperwork;

* ninety per cent of those residents who expressed a view supported the continuation of nursery classes attached to some South Gloucestershire primary school; these classes are currently the subject of a review by the Council;

* there was also very strong support for village schools, including from those parents whose children do not themselves attend such schools;

* around one in three of those who expressed an opinion were not happy about admission arrangements for South Gloucestershire schools; the two main concerns expressed were when local children cannot get in to local schools, or where a child cannot get into the same school as an older brother or sister;

* looking at higher education, a majority of three to one was opposed to the Government's target of getting half of all school leavers into university.

Commenting on these findings, Steve Webb said:

"The generally high level of satisfaction with local schools is a great tribute to the hard work and commitment of school staff, parents and governors, who are often coping with inadequate budgets and excessive paperwork. But my survey also shows that there is room for improvement, particularly on getting class sizes down and on support for children with Special Educational Needs. On class sizes, it is unacceptable that some local children are still taught in classes of 40 or more pupils, and I will be pressing for action on this as a matter of priority".

A report on the results of the survey will be sent to the Secretary of State for Education and also to local education chiefs.