Cllr Pat Hawkes

In an independent report published in December, Brighton and Hove City Council was criticised for poor education standards for schoolchildren. The council received over £127 million of Government funding last year, with an expected £134.5 million next year (a 5.4% increase).

The report suggests that many groups of children in Brighton and Hove are falling behind national standards and states:
“Educational standards need to improve further. Most young children progress well during their early years. At the age of 11 children achieve similar results to elsewhere. Asian children and those of mixed heritage do well at age 11 but achievement by Black children is low by national standards. At 16, fewer young people achieve 5 good GCSEs including English and mathematics when compared to similar area or the country overall and the rate is not improving as quickly as in some other areas. Also, fewer than average young people achieve 2 or more good GCSEs in science subjects. Improving the quality of secondary schools and young people's achievements at age 16 is a key challenge for the city.”

The report went on to state that “fewer than average secondary schools have a good standard of behavior."

Labour opposition spokesperson Cllr Pat Hawkes said:
“This is a very serious situation. The Conservatives in charge of the Council have not listed education in the City as one of their top 10 priorities even though there is a clear need to improve standards of education in Brighton and Hove.  Government money is clearly being received but those in charge of our local education need to tell us why our City is not improving at the same rate as the rest of the Country.  Providing a first class education for the City’s children and raising their aspirations to do better should be a key commitment for everyone involved in local schools.”                                                                                                              
In a letter to the Leader of the Council Mary Mears, the Labour opposition will ask for an official response and whether there will be any positive action from the Council in relation to the findings of the One Place report at the next Cabinet meeting on January 14.

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