MPs congratulate Cornish schools
Cornwall’s Liberal Democrat MPs have congratulated Cornish schools for staging a series of competitions, poetry readings, story telling, book swaps, book reviews and drama projects as part of the Cornish Celebration of Reading.
In a special House of Commons motion, the MPs say they believe local children’s reading potential could be improved still further with the £22.1m cash injection proposed for Cornish schools by Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg.
The plans include a sharp reduction in class sizes – to just 15 pupils – for children aged between 5 and 7, and a massive ‘pupil premium’ to bring funding for the poorest pupils up to that enjoyed by those at private schools.
Commenting, North Cornwall’s MP, Dan Rogerson said:
“The hundreds of staff and students at Cornish schools who are taking part in this week’s Cornish Reading Wave are leading the charge for improved reading not just in Cornwall but across the country.
“The ‘National Year of Reading’ may have come to an end, but the Cornish resolve to give children the best possible start in life has not ebbed a bit.
“There is a brilliant range of events going on across Cornwall that should spark students’ imagination and interest.”
Falmouth and Camborne MP Julia Goldsworthy added:
“Cornish schools are already showing how they can innovate, making reading exciting and interesting to children as they go through their education.
“Yet staff are fighting against the tide since Cornish pupils get at least £350 less per head than the average child in England.
“Nick Clegg’s multi-million pound boost would allow local schools to do even more, and give a leg up to the least advantaged by giving headteachers a larger budget if they take pupils from poorer households.”
ENDS
The House of Commons motion sponsored by all five Cornish MPs is reproduced below:
EDM 886
CORNISH READING WAVE INITIATIVE
25.02.2009
Rogerson, Daniel
That this House commends the right hon. Member for Sheffield, Hallam and the hon. Member for Yeovil for presenting plans to increase funding to Cornish schools by £22.1 million a year; notes the end of the National Year of Reading; welcomes Cornwall County Council’s special initiative to keep momentum behind children’s reading in a Cornish Reading Wave; further commends staff and students at Cornish schools for staging a series of competitions, poetry readings, story telling, book swaps, book reviews and drama projects as part of the Cornish Celebration of Reading; and believes that students’ reading potential would be further improved if class sizes were cut in the infant years and funding followed the most disadvantaged pupils during their 5 to 19 education.
