MP raises the schools crisis in the Commons

JIM McMahon MP in the House of Commons

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OLDHAM West and Royton MP Jim McMahon has raised the issues of two crisis schools in Parliament.

He was speaking on the floor of the House after it was revealed that the £9million Greater Manchester University Technical College will shut at the end of this academic year - just three years since it opened and after not a single pupil managed at least a C in both English and maths in last summer's GCSEs.

That news came in the same month that inadequate-rated free school Collective Spirit confirmed it was looking for a new sponsor.

Mr McMahon has urged all students at Oldham's GM UTC receive support in re-sitting their exams and that Minister for School Standards Nick Gibb ensures a full and proper review is conducted into the failing Collective Spirit school.

Collective Spirit, a free school, opened in the former South Chadderton School in Butterworth Lane in September, 2013, despite fierce council opposition.

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Earlier this month, Mohib Uddin, chairman of governors at Collective Spirit in Chadderton, confirmed to the Chronicle that the school is working with the regional schools commissioner to identify a suitable group to run the school.

A damning Ofsted inspection last May rated it as "inadequate" and placed it in special measures.

In August, 2016, the Chronicle revealed how the school paid £383,787 to a company owned by its chief executive for services ranging from PE coaches to marketing.

Mr McMahon asked the minister to conduct a review to be published as to why the free school is failing.

He also asked the minister to formally sign up to the efforts and recommendations of the Oldham Education and Skills Commission.

The report, by former Education Secretary Estelle Morris, was published in January, 2016 and looked into the state of Oldham's education system, setting out 19 recommendations.

Mr McMahon - who urged the UTC building be taken over by Oldham College - was supported in Parliament by fellow local MPs Debbie Abrahams and Angela Rayner.

Mr McMahon said: "There are some problems, and we acknowledge them in an honest and open way, but there are also reasons to be proud of what has been achieved.

"I want the Government Minister to take on board that there are local Members of Parliament who care passionately about Oldham and want to invest their time to ensure that education can be the best that it can be, while also recognising that we may have to meet in the middle.

"I will be challenging those concerned where I think a decision has been made that runs counter to the interests of young people in Oldham.

"I hope that with that mature relationship we can work across parties to achieve our aim.

"For Oldham to do well in a sustained way, it must have the strongest possible foundations on which to build. That means clear leadership, adequate resourcing and collective responsibility - and of course that goes beyond individual schools."

"As we are clear in our vision for what the town can be, we must also be clear about what our town should not be. Over the last two weeks alone, we have seen the removal of a free school sponsor and, this week, the closure of the university technical college.

"Every school and college will see a cut to its core budget, and in many places the facilities are simply not fit for modern learning, let alone an inspiring environment fit for our young people.

"We are left hanging while we wait for the delayed area-based review, which has left many colleges in the area not knowing what the future will be.

"We have not had a meaningful discussion about the future and introduction of new independent faith schools for the town either.

"We are also left with many unanswered questions about the failure of the Collective Spirit free school and the closure of the £9 million UTC.

"I commend the inclusive approach from the regional schools commissioner, but the sheer scale of the challenge is huge and the resources limited."

Mr McMahon previously attacked the government's new school spending plan.

The National Audit Office found in December that schools will have to make £3billion worth of savings by 2019/20.

Union-led research shows schools in Oldham will be stripped of £17million, or £414 per pupil.

This is despite Education Secretary Justine Greening's announcement last October that Oldham would be one of six opportunity areas to benefit from a £60million scheme to promote social mobility.

In response to Mr McMahon's speech, Mr Gibb said: "We must, however, acknowledge the stark reality that, despite the hard work and achievements of our headteachers and system leaders, children growing up in Oldham and other opportunity areas are still less likely to attend an outstanding school, or to gain the qualifications they need to progress to higher education, training or the best jobs.

"They are still being left behind, and they start falling behind even before they start school.

"We are, therefore, as one in our recognition of the need to act, and in our commitment to supporting improvements.

"The closure of Greater Manchester University Technical College was not a decision that was taken lightly. I can assure the honourable gentleman that our priority is the education and welfare of the UTC's pupils.

"We are working closely with local schools and colleges to ensure significant support from the local authority.

"I am grateful to the new Greater Manchester UTC trustees who have stepped in to ensure that this happens."

* Watch Mr McMahon's speech at parliamentlive.tv/event/index/0b03ff8e-20ad-475d-9926-ccfbac659eef?in=20:26:00&out=20:38:59.