June 27th reminded me just how many teachers are fed up with the lack of knowledge and guidance being shown by our current Education Secretary, Michael Gove. We all know how he is making us feel. Over worked, under paid, undermined and unimportant. We are experts in our field, he is not. We need to do something now before it's too late. Please sign this petition and pass it on. Parents - we need your support too. Please support your local teachers and schools. We don't want to lose either of them.

Staffordshire County Council is proposing to charge £380 a year per child for transport where children are not attending the nearest school. The figure does not take proper account of income and could be increased. For thousands of families their nearest school is not the local catchment school there is no way of avoiding this cost. An estimated 72 schools are affected and could face losing pupils. http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Staffordshire-pupils-facing-pound-380-school-bus/story-19171776-detail/story.html In Perton where I live the nearest school is in Wolverhampton which is another Local Education Authority. We have no choice but to send children to Codsall if we want them to go to the local catchment school. The council is suggesting that pupils should walk to school if parents can't afford the transport costs or drive them, but with many of the those affected living in rural areas, walking along unlit 60 mile an hour roads is not a safe or viable option. It will also lead to a increased volume of cars on many roads causing disruption and congestion to other travellers. This policy is poorly thought through and unfair especially at a time when many families are already struggling to make ends meet.

I wish to debate with Michael Gove because he is all too ready to rubbish teaching and teachers, yet seldom does he stand toe to toe and listen to the genuine concerns that classroom practitioners have. Please support me in my drive to try and get Michael Gove into the arena of public debate. I am only one teacher, working as hard as I can. I only want to be listened to by the Secretary of State for Education. Is that too much to ask?

What the Friends of John Beddoes stand for: Supporting and promoting John Beddoes School – including the excellent work of the Newtown High School team Growing a new leadership at John Beddoes – under the advice and direction of the Newtown High School (NHS) team for the next 18 months Allowing the school to retain its governing body Provided the necessary progress is being made, appointing a new head as soon as practicable, who will work under the advice and direction of NHS Supporting and promoting John Beddoes School – including the excellent work of the Newtown High School team: We are delighted with the rapid improvement in John Beddoes and profoundly grateful to the Newtown leadership team who have brought it about. We would like them to continue their work for the 18 month period of the Lead and Emerging Practitioner Scheme. We want to do everything we can to promote the school and encourage prospective parents to send their children there and are happy to offer our time and differing strengths and local knowledge to the NHS team to help bring that about. Growing a new leadership at John Beddoes – under the advice and direction of the NHS team for the next 18 months: We know that there are many very good teachers at John Beddoes. From this pool, it would be possible to develop a fine new middle and senior management structure under the advice and guidance of NHS and using the systems that they are putting in place, to help the school to develop and grow. While recognising the legitimate rights of all current staff to protection, the present management structure does not reflect the size of the school and rectifying this will put the school on a sounder financial footing. As the school grows, so more staff can be appointed into middle management roles. Allowing the school to retain its governing body for the next 18 months: If the school loses its governing body, it will have lost control of the school budget as well as the responsibility for the buildings and grounds. Even if we manage to get representatives on the NHS governors, they will always be in a small minority. The school will be run from Montgomeryshire. Therefore it is vital for East Radnorshire that we retain control of the school, unless of course at the end of the 18 months, the necessary progress had not been made. Provided the necessary progress is being made, appointing a new head as soon as practicable, who will work under the advice and direction of Newtown High School: As soon as it becomes clear that the green shoots, which we are seeing now, have the potential to grow into healthy plants, a new head should be appointed – either from the NHS leadership team or elsewhere. All schools need a headteacher who will provide consistent leadership and will be the leading representative of the school in the community. The new head should continue to work under the advice and guidance of the NHS management team as he or she develops into the role. Keeping NHS as a critical friend will be extremely important for the school once the 18 month period has passed.

It is absolutely absurd that, in this day and age, the secretary for education, who has the power to make important changes, has no grasp on the education system and what teachers do. Before Mr Gove can make any more ridiculous changes to our pay, pensions and working conditions, he needs to experience exactly what it is to be a teacher.

Do you want to save D&T in schools? As part of the governments' new proposals for the National Curriculum the Design Technology curriculum has been redrafted. It's under real threat. Please read on... The government have drawn up a draft curriculum for Design Technology in schools - a curriculum from 1952 - where cooking wholesome savoury meals, repairing textiles, growing plants, and learning basic construction skills has reshaped Design Technology to become little more than activities that practice DIY skills for home improvement. Useful in itself but... the new curriculum does not adress the vital knowledge, skills and learning that our creative and cultural economy depend on, in which design plays such a crucial role. Should this proposal be implemented, school children will be denied a design education that can inspire and equip them to discover their talents and fulfill their own creative ambition. Design professionals are now concerned that the lack of vision and lack of rigour in the proposal will lead to 'a lost design generation'. I have worked with design students at both secondary level and at further and higher education level. Design and technology at secondary level must have the scope to teach children the skills that can access and underpin university level studies. It must engage with industry and the world of professional designers to inspire and open up new career opportunities for young people. It is the only subject where, as James Dyson recently put it, 'mathematical brainboxes and science whizzkids can turn their bright ideas into useful products'. PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING PROPOSED PROGRAMME OF STUDY FOR D&T http://tinyurl.com/bwms93u Latest opinion on the proposed new curriculum: From the Design Council - http://tinyurl.com/btlgz8w http://tinyurl.com/cxltwgp From the Design & Technology Association (DATA) http://tinyurl.com/cf3gxm3 From James Dyson - http://tinyurl.com/c38adm3 The consultation process web page: http://tinyurl.com/btjqupr Consultation responses can be completed online at http://tinyurl.com/aknu9vg Please also SIGN AND SHARE THIS PETITION Thanks.

A very big thank you to everyone who helped in our fight against Tesco. Now we need to fight Round 2!! This green lung, just to the east of Halstead High Street comprises woodland containing 9 Trees under Tree Preservation Orders and natural springs that provide a wetland environment for amphibians. There are also 16 WWII air raid shelters, 9 of which are listed: as a group this is a very rare thing. Braintree District Council plan to ‘regenerate’ the site, to build more roads, properties and shops and demolish all but one or two of the shelters. We want this land to be conserved for present and future generations, to be a green haven, a heritage site and something that the town can be proud of. Thank you again for your continued support - let's see if people power can win again!!! Eileen Penn Halstead 21st Century Group 'Preserving our past for the future' This is a large area of natural woodland, with several very mature trees, full of wildlife: deer, bats, owls, hedgehogs, squirrels, rabbits, newts, frogs etc. It is also home to one of the largest collection of Air Raid Shelters in the country, sixteen in total, which are of a huge historical importance. The many bats are also known to roost in them. These shelters were for the use of the mill workers (Courtaulds Mill was nearby) in Factory Lane East and the Mill Managers who lived in cottages in Vicarage Meadow. It would be lovely if this could all be retained for the people of Halstead and others to visit. All the mature trees could be retained and some of the grassy areas made into parkland, with the rest being maintained as a nature reserve.. Each air raid shelter could have an information board, with likely items from the war years on display. And the many deer and other animals could be allowed to continue roaming free. Alison shea

Many 18-year-olds are reluctant to go to University and seek further education due to looming tuition fees and debt after they leave University. England has the highest tuition fees in the world (from a 2021 study by the OECD looking at publicly funded third-level institutions). This is mindblowing considering Scotland has free tuition fees just next-door. This looming threat of extremely high tuition fees are stopping students from going to University and preventing them from being able to reach their full potential. If the Government takes action on this issue, having England charge tuition fees much lower in accordance to all other countries in the world, many more students will be willing to further their education and go to University (as only around 50% choose to go). By not only increasing the amount of education and knowledge the public has, it will also further the likelihood of people having higher paying jobs which would increase the amount of taxes they pay, thus boosting the UK economy.

I am asking all local parents to support this cause. As if it is agreed then this will help every parent to either purchase more food or be able to use the electricity and gas more. Therefore, improving the quality of every child's life. As every child matters. Irrespective of wealth and ability to pay

My mother always asks me to help her with her computer. If there was free tuition, she could do it herself. I'm sure it's a common situation in families.

This is important because children and teenagers are already struggling with anxiety due to the pandemic, personal issues and school. School should be a safe place, where they should feel comfortable to express themselves and generally be comfortable. It should not be a place they fear going are stress too much over.

As part of a Section 106 agreement with the Vale of Glamorgan Council the Waterfront Consortium committed to build a new school to support the expansion of Ysgol St Baruc which will cater for the growing Waterfront development and the local demand for Welsh medium education. The current Ysgol St Baruc comprises a main Victorian building and a two classroom block built in the 1980's. The school is on a very confined sloping site with no prospect of increasing the site. The school currently uses the dining facilities at the adjacent High Street Primary School and has no prospect of meeting 21st Century Schools standard. The Waterfront Community deserve a first class modern school and no more excuses! The Green Party will campaign with local parents to ensure this agreement is delivered without any further delays!