26 May Local headteacher Vic Goddard slams schools funding cuts
by Dan Bryans
A head teacher from Harlow has slammed a local parliamentary candidate as reports suggest that Tory cuts that could see his school lose £800,000 worth of funding.
Statistics revealed as part of the Conservative manifesto promise showed that schools in Harlow could loose up to £5.5million.
Vic Goddard the Principal of Passmores Academy in Harlow told us “I have worked in Harlow schools for 16 years now and the reasons why so many of us stay committed to this community have remained consistent throughout those years. The challenges remain significant too.
He added “There is no doubt that as schools we continue to strive to improve both the exam results, our young people achieve, but also the rounded and supportive educational experience that they receive. Unfortunately some of the obstacles to achieving this are a wider, national issue that we need support with from whoever is in power after June 8th.”
Taking to Twitter last night Goddard tweeted “No school funding will be cut’. Sadly untrue”. this was a reaction to a comment by Harlow conservative candidate Robert Halfon who pledged that schools wouldn’t face funding cuts.
Goddard told us “Unsurprisingly the funding of our schools is a huge issue for us. The three main manifesto’s have all spoken about it to a greater or lesser degree but unfortunately the Conservative manifesto misses the point of there not actually being enough funding in schools right now.
He added “Instead they have decided to focus on the National Funding Formula, which does not yet exist and has nothing to do with the financial strain we already have without it.”
Conservative candidate Robert Halfon had said: “New funding proposals mean almost every primary school in Harlow will see an increase. No school funding will be cut.”
