Cllr Peter Wallis points out some of the issues that we need to investigate over the coming year. Yes, we are a top performing education authority, but we have significant pressures that we need to deal with. The five selective schools (and the partially selective Greenshaw) provide the spine for some of the best results in the country. We need to ensure that every child has the opportunity for the very best education. We will look at the role of the Education Authority to ensure that it is performing the role that is required by schools and parents, whilst not involving itself in areas that are best dealt with elsewhere.
Special Educational Needs provision is a particularly acute problem with a major increase in the number of statements for Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We need more provision within the Borough. At the moment, the Authority is spending a considerable amount of money for private school provision in Kent, Surrey and Hampshire and the budget for transporting children to these schools is overspent by hundreds of thousands of pounds.
This group will also seek innovative ways to protect and enhance our library services and adult learning. Education does not have to stop at 21. Whether you are a teacher, parent or student, let us have your views by going to www.suttonconservatives.org.uk.
Congrats on recognising the ASD problem. There are estimates that ASD statements will double within four years and at a relative rate from thereon. While it is admirable to have “Autistic sections” of mainstream schools, it is not the answer. Specialist schools are required and there are approximately zero in Sutton! Funding would be enormous and should be from Westminster, not Local Authorities!
Well it would be nice if the Tories could at least acknowledge that Grammar schools are the way forward instead of “bunching up” the results of all schools (including grammars) within the borough and then heaping praise upon them. If grammar schools are that good why don’t the Tories embrace them fully instead of being wishy-washy about it?
This is really encouraging and I agree with most of what Councillor Peter Wallis says in the video.
I can only echo what David has said…sadly in Sutton if your child has Autism and needs a specialist provision what choice do we have? I have spent 6 years battling for my son only to have him suffer a breakdown at the age of 9 due to Sutton’s quest for inclusion.There is nowhere for us,my son is being failed as are no doubt many other children like him.
Inclusion is the only policy due to:
a) No one understands the problem
b) Resources
Inclusion causes some horrific scenarios. One child I know, when eventually moved from a mainstream/inclusive school, took two months to be lured from under his desk due to the horrendous bullying he had endured at the cheap and uninformed “option”. I fully intend to take my son and his entire school to a Full Council meeting and, when I ask a question, the proof of my point will all be sitting there!