Budget 2006: Children, families and education
ePolitix.com Stakeholders respond to details of the chancellor's Budget.
Stakeholder Response: NUT
Steve Sinnott, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: "Gordon Brown is to be congratulated for announcing an education budget.
"His commitment to increase investment in education is precisely the boost schools need.
"By targeting high class sizes and the invidious gap between state and private school spending he has shown that he understands the needs of school communities.
"It is exactly the kind of vision we want from this government
"I welcome also his commitment to increase the number of science teachers.
Stakeholder Response:
Angela Hall, director of the Science Learning Centre London at the
"It will be interesting to hear more details of how the chancellor hopes to attract the 3,000 new teachers into the profession.
"Financial incentives, along with the other measures suggested will certainly enhance the status of science in schools, and help science teaching compete with other professions open to science graduates.
"The timing of these measures, along with exciting developments in the curriculum at Key stage 4 from September 2006, shows a genuine commitment to addressing the problem with uptake of science post-16.
"The government invested in professional development of science teachers and technicians by setting up the National Network of Science Learning Centres which opened in autumn 2004.
"Professional development in science is one factor which can contribute to revitalising science in schools, but barriers to professional development remain.
"If training more science teachers eases the shortage in some schools, these schools may be more likely to release teachers for the in-service training which is particularly important for science teachers.
"It would be good to hear that the ‘streamlined funding system’ for University researchers will acknowledge engagement with schools as contributing to the research assessment exercise, encouraging more researchers to bring live science into science education."
Stakeholder Response: Ufi, Learn Direct
Helen Milner, Ufi group director for strategic business development, said: "We are particularly pleased to see the extension of the right to free learning up to A Level standard to the age of 25, enabling more people to progress to higher levels of learning.
"There is also a substantial challenge to attract more adults of all ages with lower skills into learning for the full benefit of today’s proposal to be felt.
"Tackling the low levels of literacy and numeracy skills of the
"Ufi hopes to see in Lord Leitch’s forthcoming report proposals to ensure that skills and employment policy complement each other more effectively.
"The labour market continues to demand flexibility.
"The ability to routinely update existing skills or learn new skills is crucial for national productivity and individual employability.
"The provision of skills training needs to be equally flexible and responsive to the needs of business.
"Employers are more and more concerned about whether a person has the skills and attributes which equip them for the workplace.
"Qualifications are not necessarily an indicator of this.
"Reforms in further education and training provision which encourage greater employer involvement should mean a fresh approach to workplace training.
"Providing employers with the training they need for their businesses may mean focussing more on skills development and not just the attainment of qualifications."
Stakeholder Response: 4Children
Anne Longfield, chief executive of 4Children, said: "We warmly welcome today’s Budget announcements.
"They again confirm that parents and children are firmly at the heart of this government’s policies and Gordon Brown has understood the economic and social importance of the need to support families across the country.
"These policy announcements are key to reducing the poverty and inequalities that face many of today’s families.
"They will benefit all families with targeted help for those that need it most including working mothers, lone parents and those on lowest wages."
"Government has again put children and childcare centre stage, helping to improve the lives of all children and their parents.
"But these announcements are just the start of the support needed.
"Good childcare offers the best start for children, helping parents to work and gain financial independence.
"We believe a doubling of investment in childcare by government over the next five years to £13 billion is imperative or all the progress made could be lost."
Stakeholder Response: Nationwide
Nationwide executive director Stuart Bernau said: "The chancellor has at last confirmed that he will top-up the Child Trust Fund with £250 or £500 at age seven.
"This is good news and, we hope, will encourage parents who have not yet invested their vouchers to do so.
"We want the government to do more to encourage parents to use their vouchers and open a Child Trust Fund, including announcing further top-ups for older children.
"We will also continue to lobby for equal tax treatment for the ten million children outside Child Trust Fund."
Stakeholder Response: IEE
A spokesperson for the IEE said: "The government has taken on board the messages from the science and engineering community that we must invest more in science and technology in schools now to secure the future success of the
"However, the IEE believes that the attraction and retention of good quality science and maths teachers is fundamental to achieving the government’s objectives and needs to be addressed swiftly for the rest to fall into place.
"Over the past year the IEE has highlighted the need for more appropriately qualified science teachers and improvements to continued professional development for all.
"CPD programmes are crucial in a world of accelerating technological advancement.
"They re-invigorate and help retain good quality teachers and enable them to enthuse and inspire their students.
"The IEE already supports the electronic communications technology programme, which provides face-to-face training on delivering the ECT curriculum, enabling teachers to make their lessons relevant, interesting and engaging.
"The IEE would be willing to work with the government on developing similarly relevant and practical CPD for physics and maths teachers.
"The IEE also welcomes moves to recruit more maths and physics teachers into the profession but awaits details of the government’s proposal."
Stakeholder Response: Local Government Association
Councillor Les Lawrence, chairman of the children and young people board at the Local Government Association, said: "Any extra money going to schools is a big help.
"But by pumping the cash directly into schools, the government must not forget all the other services that make up a child's environment.
"It is these services and organisations that must work closely with schools to deliver the Every Child Matters agenda."
Stakeholder Response: Association of Teachers and Lecturers
Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of ATL, said: "ATL welcomes the much needed attention to further education with free education to the age of 25.
"However, we are sceptical about the capacity of employers to offer the leadership in further education envisaged by the chancellor.
"The boost in the school standards grant is good news, especially in the many schools where falling pupil rolls would lead to cuts.
"Any improvement in recruitment incentives is also welcome, but finding science teachers is a complex problem - they can't just be plucked out of thin air.
"In the long term, one of the most important announcements might be the scheme for a Youth National Community Service, potentially a crucial element of citizenship education if it can be made attractive."
Stakeholder Response: Association of School and College Leaders
ASCL general secretary John Dunford said: "This is very good news for schools and will help us to deliver the government’s very challenging personalisation agenda.
"As I said in my speech on Sunday to ASCL annual conference, additional funding is essential for both urban and rural areas if schools are to be able to give adequate help to pupils who need it most.
"Increases in college funding are equally important and it is essential to bring the college funding level for 16-19 year olds up to that of schools."
Stakeholder Response: The Professional Association of Teachers
Professional Association of Teachers general secretary Philip Parkin said: "This is a substantial and significant investment that will be welcomed by teachers, childcarers, support staff and parents.
"The chancellor is to be congratulated for putting the money where the government's mouth is.
"We welcome the intention to recruit more science teachers but wonder where they will come from, given the recent closures of science departments in some universities and the fact that science teaching does not currently appear to be an attractive option for many science graduates.
"We look forward to seeing the details of the chancellor's proposals for education and childcare funding."
Stakeholder Response: NASUWT
Chris Keates, general secretary of NASUWT, said: "This is a budget that puts education first and is welcomed by NASUWT.
"NASUWT signed up as social partners in 2003 – a deal which gave the Union privileged access and influence to government thinking over education policies – and today this partnership, which has progressed the modernisation agenda bringing benefits to teachers, has paid off with continuing investment in schools.
"NASUWT will now work hard to ensure that this funding is used effectively to benefit pupils and staff.
"It will be essential to ensure that the considerable gains in teachers’ pay are maintained as part of the government’s ongoing commitment to investment in education.
"NASUWT will also want to work with the government and other social partners to make sure that the increases in funding going directly to schools, announced by the chancellor today, will be used to embed and sustain the improvements to teachers’ working conditions that remodelling continues to deliver."
Stakeholder Response: Construction Products Association
A spokesperson for the Construction Products Association told ePolitix.com: "The Association welcomes the announcement in advance of the next Comprehensive Spending Review to commit a total of £34 billion towards capital investment in schools, including the building stock.
"There is little doubt that the quality of the built environment is instrumental in delivering good education.
"What we now want to ensure is that the government actually delivers on its commitments."
Stakeholder Response: CMU Universities group
Professor Michael Driscoll, chair of the CMU Universities group, said: "It is crucially important that future public funding research policy sustains research across the higher education sector and supports not only ‘blue skies’ research but also user-focused research and innovation which the chancellor has identified as being of vital importance to the international competitiveness of the UK."
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