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

This is an invasion of our children's privacy. As parents we should have been made aware of this. Many of the parents have called the school with their concerns; we were told the cameras are facing the basin, and that the cameras can not see inside the cubicles. However one of the pupils from the school have been shown the camera can see over 2 of the cubicles. They can legally install a camera if they are not facing the cubicles which in my opinion is wrong! And lot of the parents agree.  They can legally keep the recording of the cameras for up to 31 days! We however do not know who gets to see these recordings. Also they have huge locks on the doors so kids can not enter. 3 teachers have a key for these. Our kids aren't allowed to toilet yet prisoners get a cell with a toilet in and can go whenever they want! I find this unacceptable let's make a stand and get as many people to sign this so that out children can relieve themselves with no one spying on them! This is very important - we need to make a stand for our children. 

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!

This is a significant issue as it affects the majority of students and staff at the university. The sanitary needs for uterus-having peoples at the university are currently not being met. It is imperative that the university understands and accommodates the needs of its students and staffs regarding hygiene and sanitation. Period products are a necessity, but they are expensive. Tight budgets can leave people forced to prioritise other purchases, leaving them without the right period products, without enough period products, or without any period products at all. Women are forced to use socks, newspaper, toilet roll, or even bread to absorb their period. Many will miss out on school or work, or struggle to concentrate fully. Period poverty is an issue that affects 1 in 10 uterus-having students across the UK. This is an urgent issue. We are requesting university funding to meet the needs of the students and staff of the university.

Students are taught a range of languages, such as French, German, and Spanish, however the language lacking from the school curriculum is British Sign Language (BSL). There are 11 million deaf or hard of hearing people in the UK, and these people are much more likely to suffer from mental illnesses (up to 50%, compared with 25% of the general population). So, I believe that adding a BSL course to the school curriculum would be a perfect way to uphold our responsibility to those who are hard of hearing; we must step up and take the simple solution to a problem affecting millions. With the recent Covid-19 pandemic, quality of life for the hard of hearing has only worsened as these people lost the ability to lip read due to face masks and their silent world became even more silent. Even now, when regulations are much calmer, I still watched a deaf woman struggle to communicate with the worker at the pharmacy when she had an issue with her prescription.

Making school uniform free will help a lot of families out. Especially those who struggle financially. I think it’s out of order that we have to pay for something our children HAVE to wear if not they will be sanctioned. E.g have detentions for not wearing correct uniform. Where as when adults have to wear work uniform we get it at no charge.