Cllr Daisy Page, Shadow Deputy Leader of Dartford Labour Group is continuing her work to tackle the school places shortage in Dartford.
Last September, Cllr Page addressed Labour Party Conference, raising the issue of the lack of adequate school places in Dartford.
After analysis produced by the House of Commons library released last week shows that 18% of schools in the South East are over capacity, the second highest in the country after London, Cllr Page has written to the Secretary of State for Education, the Rt. Hon Nicky Morgan MP and Shadow Secretary of State, Lucy Powell MP to highlight the plight of families in Dartford who’s children are being placed in primary and secondary schools miles away from their homes due to inadequate school place planning and provision in Dartford.
Cllr Page said:
“I have written to the Minister and Shadow Minister calling for action and a meeting to discuss ways around how the school places shortage last year is going to be avoided this year for Dartford families.”
“Last year, 3,099 children in Kent did not achieve their first choice secondary school placement last year. Figures could rise again this year amid mounting pressure on school places and poor planning from Government, meaning more children and families will be let down upon receiving their offer letters this year as a result. We can’t let this continue.”
“Kent County Councillor, Tom Maddison and myself worked with many families last year to assist when their children were placed in schools miles away from their homes. Placing children in schools miles away from their homes due to the governments’ poor planning, simply wasn’t and isn’t acceptable.”
“It is time that we reinstate local input on planning for school places and that we remove the excessive bureaucracy councils face when it comes to expanding schools when there is inadequate local, state schooling provision for our children.”