Andrew Gwynne MP has welcomed plans to give parents and pupils new guarantees of what they will get from local schools and to strengthen school discipline.

Schools in Denton and Reddish have been transformed over the last twelve years. The number of children leaving primary school getting to the expected level has gone up from 58% to 81% in English and 55% to 77% in maths.

Andrew Gwynne, Labour MP for Denton and Reddish, said:

“Parents tell me they want well run and orderly schools with strong leadership, good discipline, extra help if their children are falling behind and an education that’s tailored to their child whether their strengths are practical, academic or both. That’s what this White Paper will deliver.

“It’s because we have made so much progress that we can now go further and set out new enforceable guarantees for pupils and parents. Children falling behind will be entitled to one-to-one tuition to help them get back on track and young people will have a guaranteed place in education, training or an apprenticeship.

“There will be tougher powers for schools to tackle bad behaviour, so that lessons are not disrupted by a small minority of pupils. And School Report Cards will give parents all the information they need including other parents’ views. 

“But while Labour is investing in public services during the recession, the Tories want to cut spending this year and cut school budgets next year. That would mean fewer teachers and classroom assistants, making it more difficult to keep order in the classroom. And because the Tories only believe some young people can succeed they refuse to match our guarantee of a college or apprenticeship place for every 16 and 17 year old who wants to get a skill or learn a trade.”

The Schools White Paper, published by Labour’s Schools Secretary Ed Balls, set out:

·        a Pupil Guarantee including an entitlement to one-to-one tuition for children at risk of falling behind in English and maths at primary school and the early years of secondary school, and a guaranteed place in school, college, training or an apprenticeship for school leavers.

·        a Parent Guarantee, including the right to regular information on their child’s progress and new School Report Cards to bring into one place all the information parents need about how local schools are doing. This will include school results, pupil progress, behaviour standards and Ofsted inspection judgements. An annual survey of parents will also lead to a score for ‘parental satisfaction’ on the new report card.

·        strengthened Home-School Agreements so all pupils and their families clearly understand the school rules and their responsibilities, signing up to adhere to the rules when they choose schools. Schools will have stronger powers to enforce the agreements and tackle bad behaviour.