'Join my campaign to protect our education'
A YEAR seven pupil is urging fellow students not to take proposed cuts to education in Swansea lying down.
Money allocated to schools is expected to be slashed by £4.5 million when the local authority unveils its budget later this month.
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Gowerton Comprehensive School pupil Joshua Neill. GM160210A-001
It prompted both the Swansea primary and secondary associations to issue a letter to thousands of parents — claiming as many as 100 teaching jobs could be at risk.
The news has shocked Gowerton comprehensive pupil Joshua Neill, who has since helped launch a Facebook group called Save Swansea Schools' Funding. It has attracted more than 1,600 members.
He said: "The cuts to schools should not be allowed to go ahead.
"If they do class sizes would be bigger and that would seriously affect the quality of our lessons.
"There would be less teachers too. It also might mean less activities. I play guitar so I would hate it if music lessons were cancelled. I know I'm only 11, but everyone who cares about their school and teachers should do something to try to stop big cuts happening.
"I'm asking all my friends to write to the Welsh Assembly and the council.
"If those two groups can't deal with it then I'll write to 10 Downing Street."
Swansea Council is bracing itself for a tough financial year ahead, after feeling the brunt of the recession. Last week the Post revealed the authority is trying to plug a £17 million gap in its finances.
Joshua's parents Peter, aged 44, and Catherine, aged 42, of Cadle, Swansea, said Government intervention was needed.
Mr Neill said: "We sent Josh to Gowerton comprehensive because we were concerned about the future of Daniel James.
"But now with these big cutbacks on the cards, we're worried his schooling there may be affected.
"There has to be a better way out of this situation."
Mike Day, cabinet member for education at Swansea Council, admitted the proposals were tough decisions to make — but blamed the Assembly for the cutbacks.
He said: "The Assembly will be giving Swansea less in the form of grants, such as for post-16 education. They also give us less money than our nearest neighbours.
"If we were funded at the same rate as Neath Port Talbot, we would get £21 million more. According to Assembly statistics, Welsh pupils are funded at £527 less than English pupils.
"If Swansea pupils were funded at the same rate as English pupils, Swansea schools would be getting over £18 million more each year. It would be good to lobby MPs and AMs for fairer funding."
ben.wright@swwmedia.co.uk
7 Comments
by Cllr.Tony Wyn-Jones, Neath
Wednesday, February 24 2010, 9:26AM
“Well done young man and very brave to come out againest the action of Swansea Council and others if only other children were brought up like you we would not have so much anti social behavor.
My grand son attends the special needs school the Grange for the deaf in Swansea and the council want to change there days form Monday til Thursday and no Friday how confuseing for the children some youngsters no doubt will be happy to have a day off but please let think and back this young lad Joshua and my grand son's schooling.
JOSHUA YOU HAVE MY BACKING AND I WILL CONTACT ALL PLAID MEMBERS IN SWANSEA.
LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU AND GOOD LUCK”
by roy.adams, dunvant
Thursday, February 18 2010, 3:47PM
“Well done, young Joshua, and congratulations to your mum and dad who have produced a bright young lad with compassion. I have three young grandchildren around the same age as you Joshua and i certainly want them to have the best of education. to enable them to be suitable prepared educationally, to meet the challenges in todays society. Unfortunatley there are adults in power who are incompetent, in overseeing educational needs within our City. It is now down to every parent in Swansea to protest most vigorously to the Educational Department and to Paul.Smith Chief Ex , at "County Hall" to highlight the facts that our children's education is of paramount importance. My daughter and myself have already sent our letters in. Show these people we Care.”
by Benjamin, Marina under Pietro's Way
Thursday, February 18 2010, 3:31PM
“Are you sure it's not Peter Way the Tower man and £900 grand loser by the sea..Oh yes the the other way round it was the Gower conservative's little helper who voted to give Peter Way his way in the kitchen..
Could not make it up!!”
by Dan the man, Swansea
Thursday, February 18 2010, 12:52PM
“Councillor Day, Chris Holley and all the other cabinet LEECHES who authorised the 4.6 million cut in education spending ought to be SACKED. They are just a bunch of greedy nose troughers who put themselves before our children. It is quite telling when we have a young lad like Joshua appealing for help to keep up a standard of education which should be his by RIGHT.
Get rid of the no good Lib Dem losers.
The people of Swansea should also remember that the Lib Dem prospective Candidate for the upcoming Westminster elections - Councillor Peter May - also voted in favour of cutting the budget for education. I hope people remember this and DON'T VOTE for him in the MAY elections this year.”
by Megan, Bonymaen
Thursday, February 18 2010, 12:46PM
“Well done Joshua, It seems that our children have more common sense than the so called leaders of this City. Perhaps we should ask them (the children) to organise the City's finance.”
by Debbie, swansea
Thursday, February 18 2010, 12:44PM
“Well done Joshus, something needs to be done as schools were on a tight budget before the cuts, invest in our children they are our future.”
by Deb, Swansea
Thursday, February 18 2010, 12:27PM
“Well done Joshua something needs to be done, I can't imagine how the schools will manage will less funding as they have already been on an extremely tight budget. Education will suffer as a result of this.”