Condemned Barrow school 'let down' by government, union says
Mr Kebede visited the school and said the pupils are lacking a building "they quite frankly deserve"."The prime minister was in Barrow [on Thursday] and it's a real shame he couldn't visit the school whilst he was here, because what I witnessed was the most amazing staff, an inspirational head teacher and fantastic children, but they are being completely let down by the government," he said.
'Disruptive to learning'
Since the school closed some of the children have had to be taken by coach every day to St Bernard's High School in the town while others are being taught in Portakabins in Sacred Heart's playground.Students have been moved seven times over the last two-and-a-half years, which Mr Kebede said was "incredibly disruptive to learning", and the extra work required by staff is "eating into their family life".The school has also accrued a financial deficit after spending money on temporary accommodation."What we would like to see is the government write off the deficit that has been accrued and put in the similar level of intervention that they did for schools that experienced the Raac concrete crisis," said Mr Kebede.A DfE spokesperson said the government "inherited a school estate in dire need of repair" and Sacred Heart is part of the School Rebuilding Programme.They said the department was "increasing investment next year to £2.1bn to improve the condition of school buildings" and was "committed to continuing the current School Rebuilding Programme".
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Press and Journal
19 hours ago
- Press and Journal
EXCLUSIVE: Aberdeen council's 'urgent' Raac plea was left unanswered for weeks by Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan
A desperate plea on behalf of Raac-affected Torry families to the SNP's housing secretary went unanswered for almost six weeks, the Press and Journal can exclusively reveal. Through information obtained by Freedom of Information requests as part of our , we discovered that a letter sent from Aberdeen City Council to the newly appointed cabinet secretary on June 17 describes the Granite City's housing situation as a crisis. The correspondence occurred just days after the First Minister named Màiri McAllan as the replacement for previous housing minister, Paul McLennan. Here's the situation as we understand it. A letter, sent by email from SNP councillor Miranda Radley on June 17, requests an urgent meeting with Ms McAllan in Balnagask. Ms Radley said she wanted the opportunity so the Scottish Government could outline the support it can offer to the local authority, its tenants and private homeowners. She said many, 'through no fault of their own, find themselves in unsafe conditions.' Ms Radley, convener of the communities, housing and public protection committee, also noted the tenuous position the city council is in regarding its buyback scheme. She said only 10% of the 138 privately owned properties have been sold back to the council, conceding that 'there are signs that they are unlikely to commit to any option they [the homeowners] have to financially contribute towards.' A day after Aberdeen's urgent call for Scottish Government support, Ms McAllan spoke on the Holyrood floor. She responded to North-east Scottish Conservative MSP Liam Kerr, who called for an unused and all but inaccessible pot of £20m Scottish Government housing cash to be made available to help victims of Raac. Aberdeen City Council also requested that the Scottish Government consider reclassifying this Housing Infrastructure Fund cash, after numerous applications by Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire Councils failed to access the money for other housing bids. 'For the government's part,' she added, 'my officials have received and are considering Aberdeen City Council's request for the Housing Infrastructure Fund to be repurposed to allow the local authority to support Raac efforts. 'I am getting advice on that currently and ministers will make a decision on that proposal in due course.' At the time, her response offered a lifeline of hope to Raac homeowners in Aberdeen facing financial ruin, especially when she added she would be 'glad to meet' with Torry residents. That same day, June 18, Ms McAllan penned a letter to Angela Rayner, UK Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing. In that letter, she asked the UK Government to take the lead on putting in place financial arrangements, on a cross-UK basis, to support programmes of remediation. Ms McAllan said she 'stands ready' to work with the UK Government on such a scheme and would be grateful if she could meet with Ms Rayner in 'early course'. More than a month on, we wondered what progress has been made regarding Raac, and the reclassification of the £20m Housing Infrastructure Fund. We sent an email on the morning of July 22 asking Ms McAllan if a decision had yet been made on the £20m, and if and when she will visit Balnagask. That evening, we received the following response. She said: 'I recognise the difficulty and stress being experienced by those affected by RAAC and that is why I am committed to engaging with the UK Government, local authorities and campaign groups to progress solutions.' Adding that she's recently met with Dundee Council and had offered a date to meet with Dundee families next month, she said she'd do the same for those in Aberdeen. Ms McAllan continued: 'The Scottish Government has repeatedly called on the UK Government to make available a dedicated RAAC remediation fund, but they have failed to do so. I made this call in my letter to the deputy prime minister in June. I am deeply disappointed in her response.' Her response to The Press and Journal also included that she 'expects all social landlords to be engaging with their tenants and developing plans to remediate RAAC in their homes. The Scottish Government remains closely engaged in this work.' With no mention of the £20m in the cabinet secretary's response, we were keen to find out the specific progress of the fund's reclassification – or indeed why there seems to have been a hold up. We asked for clarification. We were informed that the complexity of the situation required additional information which Aberdeen City Council has been asked to send to the cabinet secretary. This information is yet to be received by the Scottish Government. However, for clarity, we checked when the Scottish Government asked Aberdeen City Council for this additional information. A request was sent from the Scottish Government on July 22, around two hours after The Press and Journal requested a progress update on the fund reclassification. The Torry Community Raac Campaign group said they aren't surprised by the lack of urgency towards Aberdeen's Raac-affected families. A spokesperson said: 'We're deeply disappointed by the lack of urgency in the cabinet secretary coming to meet with us, but unfortunately, not surprised. 'Her comments in Holyrood last month gave Balnagask residents a glimmer of hope after months of being ignored. 'Her predecessor at least came to see the situation firsthand but ultimately did nothing. The same playbook is being followed: delay, deflect, and deny responsibility. 'Why the endless procrastination? Why ask Aberdeen City Council for more information only after media pressure? It feels like yet another cynical attempt by the minister to kick the can down the road while lives remain in limbo. 'We are tired of warm words in parliament and cold inaction in practice. The time for talking is over. We need a housing secretary willing to act — and act now.' An Aberdeen City Council spokesperson said: 'The Scottish Government is exploring how it might support Aberdeen City Council and we are continuing to respond to a variety of questions from civil servants as and when they arise.' Audrey Nicoll, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, told us she had also recently corresponded with her SNP colleague, the cabinet secretary, on RAAC. Adding, 'like others, I am keen that this issue can be resolved in as timely a manner as possible.' North-east Conservative MSP Liam Kerr said he was previously 'heartened' when Ms McAllan offered 'a ray of hope for the people of Balnagask' regarding the promise to look at the reclassification of funds. He added: 'But this isn't some tissue-thin commitment which can be forgotten about, until the media ask. It is a government minister's word, on the official record of the Scottish Parliament, in black and white. 'At the beginning of the parliamentary term, I will request a statement from Ms McAllan, outlining what she has actually done for Torry RAAC victims.' Since publication, we were made aware that on July 28th, an hour before we published our original article on The Press and Journal website, a reply to Ms Radley's email was sent by the Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Ms McAllan. The response, almost six weeks on from Aberdeen's urgent Raac plea on June 17, offers some hope to Balnagask's Raac homeowners in that she said the request to 'repurpose monies' is under 'urgent consideration.' However, there was no response to Ms Radley's invitation to visit Aberdeen's Raac residents as a matter of urgency. Full letter here:
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
White pupils are the least likely group to get into a top university - with just one in 10 expected to land a spot
White pupils are the least likely group to get into a top university for the third year running, analysis suggests. Official data from the Department for Education (DfE) shows only 11.7 per cent of white pupils are attending the highest-ranking third of universities by age 19. This compares with 12.1 per cent of black pupils, 15.5 per cent of those who are mixed race and 18.6 per cent of Asians. The underperformance of white students is partly driven by British pupils from low-income families – one of the lowest-achieving sub-categories. Only 3 per cent of these pupils made it into 'high-tariff' universities – defined as the top for entry requirements. It comes after Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson pledged last week to make raising standards for white working-class pupils a priority. She said it was a 'national disgrace' that so many were 'written off' at school and failed to achieve their potential in exams. Alan Smithers, professor of education at Buckingham University, said: 'It is striking how well young people from the ethnic minorities do in education in this country. The underperformance of white students is partly driven by British pupils from low-income families – one of the lowest-achieving sub-categories. Only 3 per cent of these pupils made it into 'high-tariff' universities – defined as the top for entry requirements (file image) 'Some of those who were born abroad come from countries where if you don't earn, you don't eat. 'They understand the crucial role that education plays in living the good life, whereas young people in this country have grown used to being supported by the state.' The rate of entering university was also lower for British-born pupils than for those who had a migrant background. Entry for native English-speakers was 42.8 per cent, while for those whose first language is not English it was 60.9 per cent. Professor Smithers said the data suggested universities were welcoming to ethnic minorities, following claims from some campaigners that they are institutionally racist. He added: 'The myth of university racism comes from the US and has been taken up by sociology departments in this country, which can become training grounds for activists who spend their years on campus seeking out every small sign that can be interpreted as racism.' The rate of entering university was also lower for British-born pupils than for those who had a migrant background. Entry for native English-speakers was 42.8 per cent, while for those whose first language is not English it was 60.9 per cent A DfE spokesman said: 'This Government is committed to supporting the aspiration of every person who meets the requirements and wants to go to university – regardless of their background. 'We know baked-in inequalities remain in our education system, which is why universities must do more to expand opportunity and improve outcomes for disadvantaged students.' The analysis of 2023/24 data – the latest available – covers pupils who attended English state schools, not those in private schools or Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
Scottish Government urged to back RAAC homeowners' campaign
Now, Ms McAllan has agreed to meet with representatives of the UK RAAC Campaign Group. Dozens of affected properties have been identified in Clackmannanshire. (Image: Scott Barron) In a letter to the group's chair, Wilson Chowdhry, she wrote: 'I am planning to meet directly with affected homeowners, in areas with the highest number of privately owned RAAC-affected properties; to listen to their concerns and explore potential solutions. It is my intention that invitations to attend these meetings will be issued to residents, local campaign groups and elected representatives. 'My officials will shortly take forward work making the relevant arrangements - which will include arranging meetings with affected homeowners in Clackmannanshire and West Lothian Council areas. 'Noting your reference to these areas, I will ask my officials to inform you when dates for these respective meetings have been agreed and to liaise with you on a separate meeting with you, as representative of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, as part of a wider engagement process.' Speaking to The Herald, Mr Chowdhry said he was 'relieved' to finally receive a response from the Secretary, although he expressed "frustration" at the lengthy delay. He said: 'Families have been living in financial and emotional freefall for months, and every day of delay has deepened their hardship. I can only hope that the legislative changes I have submitted—including restoring first-time buyer status, ensuring capital-only repayments without interest for any outstanding mortgages on homes lost through no-fault safety concerns, and reforming the Homebuyer Report framework—will be seriously considered when delivered to the UK Government. Mr Chowdhry's daughter Hannah saw her Aberdeen home plunge in value, after she was informed that contained the crumbing concrete. This spurred the veteran campaigner to meet the crisis head on. Aberdeen City Council has announced plans to demolish the homes. (Image: Getty) He added: 'Legal reforms could also prevent future crises by placing a legal burden on developers and contractors to rectify safety defects in buildings they profited from, rather than leaving ordinary people to carry the cost.' 'I welcome the recognition of the work of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, and while the Housing Minister has offered us a private meeting, the First Minister must also attend. We will not simply be discussing the human impact of this debacle—which the Government should already be acutely aware of—but will be delving deep into concrete solutions. 'The First Minister has already expressed openness to such an engagement, and the reality is that these decisions must be taken at the very top of government.' Ms McAllan was criticised in July after the Press and Journal revealed she had yet to respond to a letter sent by Aberdeen City Council appealing for urgent aid from the Scottish Government, a month after it had been sent. Commenting at the time, North East MSP Liam Kerr said: 'Getting a fair deal for the people of Balnagask should be top of the agenda for the new housing minister. "It took a massive effort to get the SNP to focus on the plight of Scotland's RAAC victims. "In Aberdeen there is a golden opportunity to use a pot of money that is more than likely going to disappear, very soon.' A decade-long City Region Deal reached in 2016 is set to expire next year, with £20m yet to be spent. Campaigners have urged the government to release the funding before it expires. The RAAC campaign has also received support from Scottish Labour. Alloa and Grangemouth MP Brian Leishman plans to lodge a formal written petition to Parliament in September, calling on the government to provide support for affected communties. Read more: 'We hold the cards': residents hit out at 'measly' council RAAC payments Aberdeen City Council recommends demolition and rebuild of dangerous RAAC homes Aberdeen RAAC residents take their case direct to First Minister John Swinney A Scottish Government spokesperson confirmed Ms McAllan's plans to meet with campaigners. They said: 'We recognise this is a worrying time for homeowners affected by RAAC. The Scottish Government takes RAAC very seriously and we have established regular meetings with public and private sector bodies to ensure best practice is shared across sectors impacted by RAAC. The Cabinet Secretary looks forward to meeting with campaigners, including homeowners, to discuss their concerns. 'We have repeatedly called on the UK Government to make available a dedicated RAAC remediation fund but they have failed to do so. 'We are continuing to work with local authorities across Scotland as they respond to the impact of RAAC in their areas and we expect all social landlords to be engaging with their tenants and developing plans to remediate RAAC in their homes. The Scottish Government remains closely engaged in this work.'
