School buildings

Today the government has announced further cuts in Whitehall spending so they can fund a school building programme. When this crazy coalition came to power the BUilding Schools for the Future programme, which was hardly perfect but which was in full swing, was decimated. Millions of pounds were wasted as projects that were imminent were axed and other necessary work that was in the planning stages was stopped. And now,only a few years on, with the academy programme muddying the waters between the LA and central government control, more money is needed for school buildings. In the intervening years many pupils have been taught in substandard accommodation. Some have tried to do their learning in corridors, quite literally.

When I started my first job in management I was told to 'keep your eyes and ears open and mouth firmly shut' for some months- ideally the first year. It is a shame that this government's mouth was similarly silenced and its hands tied....if not forever (ideally) then at least for a year to stop these knee jerk 'decisions' which soon need reversing and which come at a cost- taxpayers' money and students' educational opportunities.