50 signatures reached
To: Bishop John Arnold (Salford Diocese)
Reconsider the appointment of Chris Green MP as school governor Sacred Heart R.C.
We respectfully ask that you’re able to reconsider Chris Green’s appointment as governor to Sacred Heart Roman Catholic school, Westhoughton.
Why is this important?
Although it isn’t unheard of for some MPs to act as governors for schools, we feel the present government’s stance on education and in particular, the current funding gaps because of the cuts the government has made and continues to make, that the idea of appointing a sitting MP in support of the cuts is not in the best interests of the school or our children.
Since the government announced the cuts, Chris Green has failed to support us and more importantly our children in opposing the cuts made to their education. Despite many attempts to engage with him, he has consistently failed to enter any dialogue about the cuts. In the recent general election the other two candidates, Rebecca Forrest and candidate Julie Hilling supported our campaign against the cuts to our schools, Chris Green was unresponsive. On a number of times in public, when we have questioned him about his stance, he has said he agreed with the new funding formula which places huge cuts to funding for our local schools.
Sacred Heart the very school Chris Green is about to become governor of will lose £63,500 by 2020, a per pupil loss of £157 and the equivalent of one member of the teaching staff. Using the government’s own figures 109 of 111 Bolton schools will face cuts, in total a loss of £12.2 million, -£297 per pupil, the equivalent of -267 teachers lost.
On Monday November 13th November, 5000 head teachers wrote to the Chancellor Philip Hammond over inadequate funding. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-41969961
On October 24th education representatives against the cuts travelled to London to lobby MPs, Julia Simpkins of the NEU representing our local Bolton schools was given a 20 minute slot to meet with Chris Green. Julia had already left for London and received a message saying he couldn’t meet because of an important vote in parliament. There was no vote in parliament on 24th October 2017.
A Catholic school governor should be held to a higher standard than an MP, they should be unimpeachable. Looking over Chris Green’s voting record, not only has he consistently voted against laws to promote equality and human rights, he has also voted against paying higher benefits for those unable to work due to illness or disability. He’s consistently voted against measures to prevent climate change and to reduce funding from central government to local government impacting on schools and the local authority.
Sacred Heart is a fantastic school which serves our local Catholic community in Westhoughton, due collectively to the dedication of its headmaster, deputy head and it’s incredibly hardworking teaching staff, assistants, secretaries, caterers, caretakers and pupils and parents. Without the proper funding, our children’s education and our community will suffer.
We petition you with reluctance, we respectfully ask that you reconsider Chris Green’s appointment as governor to Sacred Heart Roman Catholic school, Westhoughton.
Since the government announced the cuts, Chris Green has failed to support us and more importantly our children in opposing the cuts made to their education. Despite many attempts to engage with him, he has consistently failed to enter any dialogue about the cuts. In the recent general election the other two candidates, Rebecca Forrest and candidate Julie Hilling supported our campaign against the cuts to our schools, Chris Green was unresponsive. On a number of times in public, when we have questioned him about his stance, he has said he agreed with the new funding formula which places huge cuts to funding for our local schools.
Sacred Heart the very school Chris Green is about to become governor of will lose £63,500 by 2020, a per pupil loss of £157 and the equivalent of one member of the teaching staff. Using the government’s own figures 109 of 111 Bolton schools will face cuts, in total a loss of £12.2 million, -£297 per pupil, the equivalent of -267 teachers lost.
On Monday November 13th November, 5000 head teachers wrote to the Chancellor Philip Hammond over inadequate funding. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-41969961
On October 24th education representatives against the cuts travelled to London to lobby MPs, Julia Simpkins of the NEU representing our local Bolton schools was given a 20 minute slot to meet with Chris Green. Julia had already left for London and received a message saying he couldn’t meet because of an important vote in parliament. There was no vote in parliament on 24th October 2017.
A Catholic school governor should be held to a higher standard than an MP, they should be unimpeachable. Looking over Chris Green’s voting record, not only has he consistently voted against laws to promote equality and human rights, he has also voted against paying higher benefits for those unable to work due to illness or disability. He’s consistently voted against measures to prevent climate change and to reduce funding from central government to local government impacting on schools and the local authority.
Sacred Heart is a fantastic school which serves our local Catholic community in Westhoughton, due collectively to the dedication of its headmaster, deputy head and it’s incredibly hardworking teaching staff, assistants, secretaries, caterers, caretakers and pupils and parents. Without the proper funding, our children’s education and our community will suffer.
We petition you with reluctance, we respectfully ask that you reconsider Chris Green’s appointment as governor to Sacred Heart Roman Catholic school, Westhoughton.
How it will be delivered
Emailed over.
