Anne Main MP has today met with a group of local headteachers for their regular monthly meeting. Mrs Main spoke to St Albans and Harpenden Secondary School Headteachers group (STASSH) about recent correspondence in relation to the funding formula and the future prospects of local schools.
‘The roundtable meeting was hugely valuable. STASSH and local parents have been contacting me recently about the challenges local schools face and the changes to the new curriculum, so it was helpful to meet face-to-face,’ said the St Albans MP.
‘We have excellent local schools led by dedicated heads. I listened very carefully to their concerns over increased pension and national insurance contributions, and the impact this has on their budgets.
‘The additional pressures on recruiting and retaining staff around the London fringe is something that I’ve raised in the past with ministers, as well as funding pressures. Heads have been particularly concerned about recruitment in maths, science and in engineering.
‘The issue surrounding capital funding was raised at the meeting. It’s incredibly important that we improve crumbling school buildings, so this is something that we must address. Even in a challenging financial environment, our schools must continue to be a priority for the government.
‘As a former teacher myself I understand very well just how challenging and rewarding teaching children can be. We have some of the best schools in Hertfordshire and we cannot take them for granted.
‘I shall certainly be making education a priority for constituents and teachers if I am returned to parliament in June.’
Watch: Anne Main, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Bangladesh, talks about the Rohingya crisis and urges support for @DECappeal pic.twitter.com/FFL0lq8O0A
— DFID (@DFID_UK) October 12, 2017