Chuka Umunna MP

Last month, Chuka invited Lambeth Living, representatives from the Council and Tulse Hill Tenants and Residents Association to accompany him on a walkabout of Tulse Hill Estate to meet local residents and listen to their concerns.

One of the problems reported during the visit was the number of potholes around the estate. Following the visit, Lambeth Living assured residents that the worst of the potholes will be filled in within the next two to three weeks and the Council suggested that Lambeth Living should meet with the Council officers responsible for filling in potholes in the borough to see if their knowledge and experience can be of assistance – a small example of why walkabouts like this, with representatives from all the relevant agencies, are so important.

Local residents also raised the lack of activities for young people, and Chuka visited the Jubilee Hall facility which has lain dormant because of a lack of funding – following this Chuka is meeting with its steering group which is working to get the building up and running again.

Chuka will be doing regular walkabouts throughout the constituency to meet as many constituents as possible, hear their concerns and take action.

This week, Chuka spoke in an adjournment debate in Parliament on the Liberal Democrat – Conservative government’s cuts to school building projects, making the case for the government to reverse its decision and for the crucial projects at Dunraven, Bishop Thomas Grant and La Retraite to go ahead.
You can watch Chuka’s speech here (it starts at 52m20s in).

To read the speech in full, follow this link

In our area, La Retraite and Bishop Thomas Grant secondary schools, which were due to benefit from new, state of the art buildings, have seen their BSF projects stopped. As a result La Retraite will remain the only school with post-16 provision in Lambeth without purpose-built sixth form buildings.

The other project at Dunraven School – as one of a handful of ‘sample’ projects nationally – has been put in doubt and placed under review. It is crucial that the government announces the time scale and terms of this review, which it has completely failed to do so far. Chuka has tabled a number of Parliamentary questions to Ministers seeking clarification on this for constituents.

Chuka Umunna, Member of Parliament for Streatham, has made a speech in an adjournment debate in Parliament to make the case for local school building projects to go ahead.

In his speech, Mr Umunna defended the previous government’s school building programme, citing the transformation of Elm Court School under the Building Schools for the Future programme.

He said:

“There are examples in my constituency of the BSF programme being very effective and highly successful. They undermine and contradict the overall view put forward by the Government and the Secretary of State. One example is Elm Court School, a special school in the Brixton area. An old Victorian building was transformed into a modern learning space, with fantastic new facilities including a theatre, a drama space and multi-use games and sports areas. The young people love it.

Mr Umunna called into question the evidential basis for the government’s decision to stop BSF projects:

“The lack of evidence calls into question the coalition’s motives for the announcement that they have made. They have said that the money being taken from the programme is not being diverted into free schools, but do they not accept that it adds insult to injury when the parents and teachers in my constituency, whose schools are affected by the cuts, see all that money being ploughed into the Secretary of State’s pet project, the free school model? [Jessica Lee MP] mentioned the structural deficit, which tends to come up every time we talk about anything relating to resource. Okay, I accept that, but one of the ways of dealing with the deficit is to bring about growth. That is ultimately the best way to eradicate the deficit, in many respects. Why take investment away from the people to whom we are looking for the growth of the economy in the future? It does not make sense to me.

“The hon. Member for Banbury put a premium on what school principals say about the project, and I would not disagree with taking note of what school heads and principals say about it. PricewaterhouseCoopers published an evaluation of BSF in February in which more than four fifths of head teachers agreed that the programme would contribute to educational transformation in their schools; three quarters agreed that it had more potential to deliver educational transformation than previous capital investment programmes; and all the head teachers surveyed agreed that it delivered a more stimulating environment and tackled fundamental design issues in schools. That is the overall evidence.”

Speaking of the urgent need for investment in new buildings at La Retraite school and the shortage of school places in Lambeth, he said:

“Just before coming to the debate, I received a copy of a letter that Susan Powell, the head teacher at La Retraite school, has just sent to the Secretary of State about the significance of the scrapping of the BSF project at her school. She explains how, in anticipation of receiving the BSF moneys, her school took on site three mobile classrooms: “The reason for these mobile classrooms was that, two years ago, we agreed with the local authority to take on extra pupils and to extend the intake to 5 forms of entry. We agreed to do this as part of the arrangements for BSF; it was part of our bid. We believe that we have a moral right to new buildings to house the extra pupils, which we only took on in return for this promise. You may not know that pupil places are at a premium in Lambeth which is, as an authority, extremely short of places.”

“Many hours, weeks and months of planning have gone into projects in my community that have been scrapped. I appeal to the Minister not only to approve the project at Dunraven school, which is in the balance, but to reverse the decision on the La Retraite and Bishop Thomas Grant schools. We are talking about our children’s future, and the coalition needs to wake up and come to its senses.”

Mr Umunna has set up an online petition against the Liberal Democrat – Conservative government’s cuts to local school building projects which can be signed at: http://www.gopetition.co.uk/petitions/save-streathams-school-building-projects.html, as well as tabling an Early Day Motion in Parliament calling on the government to reverse its decision to stop projects in their tracks.

Lambeth has published its report on the current situation with the Streatham Hub project in advance of its cabinet meeting later this month – it is available online here.

Chuka’s People’s Question Time on the Streatham Hub development is taking place this Thursday at the upper school site of Dunraven School, 94/98 Leigham Court Road, London, SW16 2QB from 6.30pm onwards. For further details of the event, follow this link.

Last week, the Liberal Democrat – Conservative government’s Education Secretary Michael Gove announced cuts to the previous government’s ambitious school building programme, Building Schools for the Future (BSF).

School building projects at three local secondary schools are affected, with major rebuilding projects axed at La Retraite and Bishop Thomas Grant schools and Dunraven School’s project placed in doubt.

To put pressure on the government, Chuka is campaigning alongside students, parents and teachers for the projects to go ahead and for the cuts to funding for new school buildings to be reversed.

He has set up a petition to save Streatham’s school building projects and demand answers from the government – please sign it here.

Chuka has also tabled an Early Day Motion in Parliament on the issue, condemning the government’s cancellation of school building projects and calling for answers on projects subject to review such as Dunraven’s. The full text of the EDM and a list of MPs who have signed it can be read here.

Recently, Chuka made a speech in the Budget debate warning of the impact the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Budget will have on areas like Streatham – particularly the poorest and most vulnerable in society.

A video of Chuka’s speech is below.

An Early Day Motion (EDM) has been tabled in Parliament to oppose axing essential Building Schools for the Future (BSF) projects across London as the campaign against the cuts gathers momentum.

Chuka Umunna, Member of Parliament for Streatham, tabled the EDM which condemns the government’s decision to cancel 171 BSF projects across London and notes the “dashed hopes and efforts of the pupils, parents, teachers and governors of these schools”.

The EDM has been tabled ahead of a mass lobby of Parliament against the cuts by teachers, governors and pupils on Monday organised by teaching union NASUWT.

It also raises the continuing uncertainty facing eleven ‘sample’ schools across London where building projects are under review. The government has not yet clarified when a final decision will be made on these projects.
In Mr Umunna’s Streatham constituency, two BSF projects at Bishop Thomas Grant and La Retraite schools have been cancelled, and a third ‘sample’ project at Dunraven School has been put on hold pending a review.
The EDM has already been signed by 21 MPs.

David Boyle, Principal of Dunraven School, commented:

“The condition of many of the school buildings is poor and has deteriorated still further recently, as much-needed work has been postponed with the promise of the BSF funding.

“The BSF programme of rebuilding and refurbishment offers us real value for money which could not be achieved through simply ‘patching’ existing buildings. If the programme is postponed, we will have to find £50,000 for essential repairs in the Autumn term alone to keep the buildings sound and safe.

“The students and staff deserve a school building that will enhance their experience of teaching and learning and which will enable the school to go from strength to strength in the future.”

Mr Umunna said: “Students, governors, parents and teachers across London were bitterly disappointed by the government’s decision to cut school buildings.

“I have tabled this EDM to reflect this depth of feeling and put pressure on the coalition for answers on projects which remain under review.”

In full, the EDM reads:

That this house condemns the Government’s decision to cancel the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme for 171 secondary schools in Greater London; notes that this dashes the hopes and efforts of the pupils, parents, teachers and governors of those schools; condemns the ongoing uncertainty facing eleven London ‘sample schools’ where the status of planned building work remains under review, regrets the negative effect that the government’s decision will have on growth and jobs in London’s construction industry; further notes that thousands of London school pupils and teachers have benefited from BSF projects that have already been completed; asserts that a modern, purpose-built and comfortable learning environment is essential to the education of children in London and elsewhere; and in the strongest possible terms urges the government to reconsider its decision and proceed with the projects previously planned.

Established by the Labour government in 2005, the Child Trust Fund was a savings and investment account available for all children at birth, receiving £250 free to start their account and a further £250 when they reach the ages of seven and eleven.

Families could add to the fund over time, building up a ‘nest egg’ for young people when they leave education to give them a good start in their adult lives. For parents who did not claim the £250 and open a Child Trust Fund when their child was born, a ‘stakeholder’ account was be set up on behalf of the child by the government allowing parents to claim the fund later.

A total of 7,045 children in the Streatham constituency now have Child Trust Fund accounts. These families along with many others were dealt a harsh blow when, within weeks of the general election, the new LibDem – Tory coalition government announced that it would abolish the fund. The money already paid into the fund will still be accessible when a child turns 18, but from January 2011 the government will stop paying into the scheme.

However, 2,581 children in Streatham are yet to have a Child Trust Fund opened on their behalf by their parents. For children in this position, a ‘stakeholder’ account is set up and managed on their behalf by the government.

Chuka has pursued the full details of the impact that the Child Trust Fund’s abolition will have on the people of Streatham. He submitted a written question to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to ask whether parents and guardians would be able to take control of stakeholder Child Trust Fund accounts after January. The reply from the Treasury confirmed that such accounts will indeed remain under the full control of parents or guardians, who if they wish can choose to transfer the account to a different financial provider or type of account. The money remains the child’s and he or she cannot withdraw it until they turn 18.

Two out of three school building projects in Streatham agreed under the last government have been axed with another put at risk by the Liberal Democrat – Conservative coalition, Education Secretary Michael Gove has announced.

Crucial school building projects at La Retraite and Bishop Thomas Grant schools will no longer go ahead, despite years of planning and preparation.

Dunraven School was listed as one of a handful of “sample projects” which are being reviewed by the government and may still be cancelled.

Since the formation of the coalition government there has been uncertainty about the future of the previous administration’s school building programme, which was the most ambitious undertaken since the Victorian era.
Mr Umunna has pressed ministers for answers on BSF since his election in May. Having asked education ministers to clarify its plans for projects at local schools in a written question on the matter, he received an evasive answer from Schools Minister Nick Gibb, who said: “I will reply as soon as possible”.

Commenting on Tory plans for schools last year, Mr Gibb said: “some of the best new schools in Sweden are set up in office blocks”.

In his maiden speech last month, Mr Umunna highlighted the importance of the BSF programme to local schools and urged the new government to go ahead with the developments.

After Mr Gove made his statement to the House, Mr Umunna rose and asked the Secretary of State to clarify what the implications were for the three BSF projects in his constituency, to which Mr Gove replied:

“Dunraven school is a sample school, and therefore falls within the group of local authority schools that we will look at. Elm Court, a special school in his constituency, has already opened under BSF. I believe that two other schools have not reached financial close, and I will confirm that in my letter to him.”

In his speech, Mr Gove also criticised the design and delivery of BSF projects. However, the innovative new sports hall at Dunraven School which was funded through BSF was a finalist in the Better Public Building awards and was praised by judges as:“an extremely cheap new facility built with remarkable speed – and it looks good.”

In the recent by-election in the Tulse Hill ward in the Streatham parliamentary constituency, Liberal Democrat literature promised “more money for schools, and the Liberal Democrat manifesto said: “We will provide a fair start for all children by giving schools the extra money they need to cut class sizes. We will invest additional money in the schools system to allow schools to cut class sizes.”

Commenting, Chuka Umunna MP said: “I am bitterly disappointed that these projects have been cancelled and I feel that local students, teachers and school governors have been betrayed by the coalition government.

“Our young people deserve the very best, and the BSF school building programme meant an education in twenty first century surroundings for all. I am concerned that because of the government’s decision this week, our children are being sold sort.”

After weeks of uncertainty, the new Liberal Democrat – Conservative coalition government yesterday admitted that it would, as was feared, cut Labour’s Building Schools for the Future programme. Building projects at two Streatham schools, La Retraite and Bishop Thomas Grant, will be stopped as a result. Meanwhile building work at Dunraven School is under review and may be cancelled as well.

Having spent the last two months pushing for the government to reveal its intentions in this area, Chuka asked Education Secretary Michael Gove in Parliament yesterday what the cuts would mean for Streatham schools. He criticised the government for refusing to disclose the full details of the BSF cut:

“We are in the absurd position of constantly having to ask the Secretary of State to read from his list. I know precisely which schools in my area have not reached financial close, but I do not know if they have got to the close of dialogue stage. Those three schools are La Retraite, Dunraven and Bishop Thomas Grant. Can he tell me from his list whether they will go ahead?”

Failing to clarify the situation, the Secretary of State gave the following reply:

“Dunraven school is a sample school, and therefore falls within the group of local authority schools that we will look at. Elm Court, a special school in his constituency, has already opened under BSF. I believe that two other schools have not reached financial close, and I will confirm that in my letter to him.”

Only in his letter to Chuka did Mr Gove confirm that building work at La Retraite and Bishop Thomas Grant would no longer go ahead. The cuts come after years of planning and preparation, will pull much needed investment out of the local economy in Streatham and represent a bitter blow to the children, parents and governors of the schools in question.