OVER SEVEN PER CENT LEAVE WITHOUT ENGLISH & MATHS QUALIFICATIONS
LABOUR’S EDUCATION POLICIES IN TAMESIDE ARE FAILING OUR CHILDREN
Over half of Tameside’s school leavers failed to achieve decent English and Maths standards in last year’s GCSEs, newly released figures show.
Over 1,600 pupils left school in 2009 having failed to achieve a grade C or above in both subjects – 54.5 per cent of the borough’s school leavers.
Furthermore, 7.6 per cent (over 220) of young people left without a GCSE qualification in Maths and English.
Overall, Tameside still lags behind average national standards – with 45.5 per cent of pupils achieving five or more GCSE grades A*-C (including Maths and English), compared to a national average of 49.8 per cent.
The results have been attacked by the Leader of Tameside Conservatives, Cllr. John Bell.
Cllr. Bell stated that, year-on-year, young people in Tameside are being failed by Labour’s education system.
He also stated that continuing low standards in the borough’s education system meant Tameside was being condemned to a future local economy that was based on low paid jobs, and lacking the high-calibre job opportunities found in other areas of Greater Manchester.
Cllr. Bell said, “I applaud Tameside’s school leavers for their efforts, but nonetheless they are being let down by a Labour education system that is simply failing to raise education standards in Tameside.
“Expectations are far too low, and as a result our young people are not getting the education they deserve - an education which young people in other areas receive.
“It is simply unacceptable that, having received 11 years of full-time education, almost eight per cent of our school leavers fail to achieve a single qualification in Maths or English.”
“Furthermore, it is no coincidence that Tameside is close to the bottom of the Greater Manchester pay league. This is because the borough lacks high-calibre jobs from big business. More needs to be done to attract this type of inward investment, and higher education standards and a better-qualified local workforce are a must – if we are to give our youngsters the best future possible.”
For further details of the 2009 GCSE results please click here.
