• WE urge your readers to ask education questions of prospective candidates.

Specifically:
– Many schools in Camden have had to increase class size over the past year due to a lack of funding. Do you think this is acceptable?

– Some secondary schools are reducing their curriculum, removing subjects like design technology, art or drama in order to reduce staffing and meet the requirements of the government for students to be assessed in an Ebacc. Do you think this approach is the best for children?

– Some primary schools are reducing the number of teaching assistants due to a lack of funding. Do you think this is likely to have a positive effect on the children?

– Last year over 50 per cent of Year 6 children were told they were not good enough for secondary school at the end of their SATs, despite having only one year to prepare for a much harder curriculum and not having any clear idea throughout the year of how they were going to be assessed. Do you think this is a good message to give a majority of children starting secondary school?

– Research has shown that children in boroughs without any grammar schools do better than children in Kent, where there are large numbers of grammar schools. Given this could you explain if you think grammar schools can help to increase social mobility?

We wish everyone the best in campaigning.

GERALD CLARK
Secretary, Camden
National Union of Teachers