(time limit 30 minutes)
Motion 1
Councillor Chadderton to MOVE and Councillor J Larkin to SECOND:
Oldham Council notes recent announcements from both the Prime Minister Theresa May and Secretary of State for Education Justine Greening, that this government intends to reintroduce grammar schools and allow academic selection based on ability as measured at the age of 11.
The evidence is clear that the reintroduction of Grammar Schools would be a retrograde step. Grammar schools do not aid social mobility, they do not raise standards across the board and they inhibit the progress of able students from less affluent backgrounds.
A further consequence of the reintroduction of grammar school may be the rise of the old secondary moderns, leading once again to a system where children will be divided into academic and non-academic at the age of 11.
Raising education standards for every child in Oldham is a key priority for Oldham Council, this can be seen in our commitment to the Oldham Education & Skills Commission and the subsequent recommendations from the commission. We do not wish to see a return to selective education and believe this would be to the detriment to a significant number of Oldham’s children.
The reintroduction of Grammar Schools was not featured anywhere in the Conservative party election manifesto presented to electors prior to the 2015 general election and we urge the government to abandon these plans.
Council resolves to
· Continue to invest in world class facilities for all of our children.
· Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner MP pledging our support for the ‘Education not Segregation’ campaign.
· Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Education Secretary, the Right Honourable Justine Greening MP, setting out our opposition to her plans.
Motion 2
Councillor Briggs to MOVE and Councillor Ali to SECOND:
This Council welcomes the continuing development of the Metrolink network and the increasing numbers of visitors it brings to Oldham, but is concerned at proposals which will see Oldham deprived of a direct service to and from Piccadilly station and the proposed Piccadilly “Hub”.
Anything less than a direct connection to the Piccadilly 'hub' would leave Oldham disadvantaged in terms of access to and from main line train services, the proposed HS2, Manchester Airport and employment opportunities in the regional centre such as the proposed Mayfield Development.
Therefore, the Council instructs the relevant officers to pursue our concerns with Transport for Greater Manchester (TFGM) as a matter of urgency.
Motion 3
Councillor Moores to MOVE and Councillor Harrison to SECOND:
The Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association has launched a Charter to gain support as the Association works towards their vision of securing the right care, at the right time and in the right place for those who suffer with MND, and their carers.
Achieving quality of life, dignity and respect for people with MND and their carers must be something we strive for, and adopting the Charter will help us to understand and support these people.
We call on this council to adopt the MND Charter and to help positively influence the lives of people living with MND in Oldham.
Minutes:
Motion 1
Councillor Steven Bashforth and Councillor Marie Bashforth declared a pecuniary interest in this item. They left the Chamber and did not participate in the discussion or vote thereon.
Councillor Chadderton MOVED and Councillor J. Larkin SECONDED the following motion:
“Council notes recent announcements from both the Prime Minister Theresa May and Secretary of State for Education Justine Greening, that this government intends to reintroduce grammar schools and allow academic selection based on ability as measured at the age of 11.
The evidence is clear that the reintroduction of Grammar Schools would be a retrograde step. Grammar schools do not aid social mobility, they do not raise standards across the board and they inhibit the progress of able students from less affluent backgrounds.
A further consequence of the introduction of grammar school may be the rise of the old secondary moderns, leading once again to a system where children will be divided into academic and non-academic at the age of 11.
Raising education standards for every child in Oldham is a key priority for Oldham Council, this can be seen in our commitment to the Oldham Education & Skills Commission and the subsequent recommendations from the commission. We do not wish to see a return to selective education and believe this would be to the detriment to a significant number of Oldham’s children.
The reintroduction of Grammar Schools was not featured anywhere in the Conservative party election manifesto presented to electors prior to the 2015 general election and we urge the government to abandon these plans.”
AMENDMENT
Councillor Turner MOVED and Councillor Harkness SECONDED the following amendment.
“Insert as a new Paragraph Two:
‘Furthermore, Council is concerned for the future education of its disabled pupils. In the consultation paper, ‘Schools that Work for Everyone’, there is not a single mention of disabled pupils and the Department for Education has failed to carry out an equality impact assessment of its proposals as required under the Equality Act 2010.’
And insert as a new Paragraph Five:
‘In addition, the Alliance for Inclusive Education has claimed that the policy of increasing selective schools is contrary to new guidance from the United Nations which urges the replacement of segregated education with ‘inclusive classroom teaching in accessible learning environments with appropriate supports’ and that it may constitute a breach of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.’
The original Paragraph Four now becomes Paragraph Six.
The original Paragraph Five now becomes Paragraph Seven.
The original Paragraph Six now become Paragraph Eight.
Insert as a new Paragraph Nine:
‘Council welcomes the recent abandonment of Government plans to force schools to become academies and to abolish parent governors after local authorities and teaching unions made clear their opposition to these proposals. Council is therefore confident that concerted and co-ordinated pressure may also force this Government to abandon plans for grammar schools.’
The final paragraph containing the resolution is to be amended to include a new third bullet point:
‘Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Alliance for Inclusive Education supporting their campaign opposing grammar schools’
The now Fourth Bullet Point is to be amended by inserting the following additional words at the end:
‘and also make a submission in response to the public consultation on the document ‘Schools that Work for Everyone’ outlining this Council’s objections to the proposal to create more grammar schools.’
Insert a Fifth Bullet Point:
‘Ask the Chief Executive to send a copy of this submission to the Local Government Association and to ask for its support for this Council’s position.”
Amended motion to read:
“Oldham Council notes recent announcements from both the Prime Minister Theresa May and Secretary of State for Education Justine Greening, that this government intends to reintroduce grammar schools and allow academic selection based on ability as measured at the age of 11.
Council also further notes that this policy is outlined in the document ‘Schools that Work for Everyone’ which is currently subject to public consultation and that there is still time for bodies such as local authorities to make submissions in response to the consultation.
The evidence is clear that the reintroduction of Grammar Schools would be a retrograde step. Grammar schools do not aid social mobility, they do not raise standards across the board and they inhibit the progress of able students from less affluent backgrounds.
Furthermore, Council is concerned for the future education of its disabled pupils. In the consultation paper, ‘Schools that Work for Everyone’, there is not a single mention of disabled pupils and the Department for Education has failed to carry out an equality impact assessment of its proposals as required under the Equality Act 2010.
In addition, the Alliance for Inclusive Education has claimed that the policy of increasing selective schools is contrary to new guidance from the United Nations which urges the replacement of segregated education with ‘inclusive classroom teaching in accessible learning environments with appropriate supports’ and that it may constitute a breach of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
A further consequence of the reintroduction of grammar school may be the rise of the old secondary moderns, leading once again to a system where children will be divided into academic and non-academic at the age of 11.
Raising education standards for every child in Oldham is a key priority for Oldham Council, this can be seen in our commitment to the Oldham Education and Skills Commission and the subsequent recommendations from the commission. We do not wish to see a return to selective education and believe this would be to the detriment to a significant number of Oldham’s children.
The reintroduction of Grammar Schools was not featured anywhere in the Conservative party election manifesto presented to electors prior to the 2015 general election and we urge the government to abandon these plans.
Council welcomes the recent abandonment of Government plans to force schools to become academies and to abolish parent governors after local authorities and teaching unions made clear their opposition to these proposals. Council is therefore confident that concerted and co-ordinated pressure may also force this Government to abandon plans for grammar schools.”
Councillor Roberts spoke against the amendment.
Councillor Chadderton exercised her right of reply.
Councillor Turner exercised her right of reply
A vote was then taken on the AMENDMENT.
On being put to the vote, 9 votes were cast in FAVOUR of the AMENDMENT and 44 votes cast AGAINST and 0 ABSTENTIONS. The AMENDMENT was therefore LOST.
Councillor Mushtaq spoke in support of the original motion.
Councillor Chadderton did not exercise her right of reply.
A vote was taken on the original MOTION.
On being put to the vote, 50 votes were cast in FAVOUR of the ORIGINAL MOTION and 3 votes cast AGAINST and 0 ABSTENTIONS. The ORIGIONAL MOTION was therefore CARRIED.
RESOLVED that:
1. Council would continue to invest in world class facilities for all of our children.
2. The Chief Executive be asked to write to the Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner pledging our support for the ‘Education not Segregation’ campaign.
3. The Chief Executive be asked to write to the Education Secretary, the Right Honourable Justine Greening MP, setting out our opposition to her plans.
At this point in the meeting the Mayor advised that the time limit for this item had expired.
Motion 2
Councillor Briggs MOVED and Councillor Ali SECONDED the following motion:
“This Council welcomes the continuing development of the Metrolink network and the increasing numbers of visitors it brings to Oldham, but is concerned at proposals which will see Oldham deprived of a direct service to and from Piccadilly station and the proposed Piccadilly ‘Hub’.
Anything less than a direct connection to the Piccadilly ‘Hub’ would leave Oldham disadvantaged in terms of access to and from main line train services, the proposed HS2, Manchester Airport and employment opportunities in the regional centre such as the proposed Mayfield Development.”
Councillor Briggs MOVED and Councillor Ali SECONDED that the motion be put to the vote.
A vote was taken on the MOTION.
On being put to the vote, the MOTION was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
RESOLVED that relevant officers be instructed to pursue the Council’s concers with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) as a matter of urgency.
Motion 3
Councillor Moores MOVED and Councillor Harrison SECONDED the following motion:
“The Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association has launched a Charter to gain support as the Association works towards their vision of securing the right care, at the right time and in the right place for those who suffer with MND, and their carers. Achieving quality of life, dignity and respect for people with MND and their carers must be something we strive for, and adopting the Charter will help us to understand and support these people.”
RESOLVED that the Motion be rolled over to the next Council meeting scheduled on 14th December 2016.