The Bee Team has been an important part of Heron Hill school for many years. Please sign this in support of the wonderful work they do in the hope that something can be done.

This cut contradicts the Scottish Government Manifesto commitments concerning instrumental music tuition, which have cross-party support in the Scottish Parliament. The Policy Commitment The SNP Manifesto 2021, 'Scotland's Future' set out the SNP policy commitments for the current Parliamentary session. In relation to music and arts education, it undertook to: abolish fees for music and arts education, including instrumental music tuition in schools; mainstream music as a core subject in Scotland's education system; and ensure Scotland's school-based instrumental music teachers receive GTCS registration and accreditation. The Scottish Government commitment to abolish instrumental music tuition fees is part of a wider policy objective to remove cost barriers to education. The SNP Manifesto clearly articulates this policy, stating: 'No pupil should struggle to learn because of poverty. We know that some families are sacrificing essentials like heating, food and rent payments so that their children can participate fully at school – this is unacceptable. The barriers to education must be removed.' It then provides specific comments on 'Curriculum Charges', making the following commitment: 'To ensure equal access to the whole curriculum, we will remove core curriculum charges for all pupils. This will enable children to take the subjects they want without families having to struggle to meet costs of resources and materials for practical lessons.' The Gulf between Policy and Practice Despite these laudable policy ambitions, which seek to ensure equitable access to instrumental music tuition for all children and young people, the reality is different in practice. Midlothian Council proposes to withdraw its funding of the Instrumental Music Service - to the tune of £440,000 - and rely solely on the funding provided by the Scottish Government. On 4th October 2022, the Scottish Government issued a letter to the Directors of Finance and Heads of Instrumental Music Tuition, providing advice concerning the allocation of funding in respect of instrumental music tuition in schools. The letter refers to the Manifesto commitments and provides 'further advice and confirmation of what the commitment on abolishing fees means in practice for local authorities and schools, and how the funding can be managed to meet this commitment'. It refers to the increase in funding provided to local authorities and goes on to provide that 'Scottish Ministers expect that the uplift in funding should be spent on an enhancement of instrumental music tuition services, including activity in this academic year which could support further enhancement in later years.' (emphasis added). The advice then goes on to provide examples of how the funding can be used. All examples given refer to additionality both in terms of staff and resources. It is clear from this letter that this additional funding alone is not designed to fund the provision of instrumental music tuition fully but rather to supplement the existing funding which Local Authorities have previously allocated to Instrumental Music Services. This has not been recognised in the approach being adopted in the draft budget proposals by Midlothian Council. The Impact on Children, Young People, Instrumental Music Services and the Community As there will be no younger pupils feeding through to Secondary and ultimately to the senior phase, it will be nigh on impossible to get pupils, who have only started to learn an instrument at Secondary School, to SQA standard or, indeed, any suitable standard in the given time which enables them to take a meaningful part in School, Authority or Community musical activities. Due to fewer or no younger pupils with any experience of learning an instrument coming through to Senior level and only a few of those studying for a National qualification e.g. Nat 5, Higher, Advanced Higher likely, but not guaranteed, to receive any tuition through the Instrumental Music Service, Music as a subject in Midlothian is likely to be reduced in size or downgraded. The aim for equity of opportunity and experience enshrined in the Government manifesto will be lost to Midlothian pupils. The same issues of equity of access which were highlighted when Local Authorities charged for lessons will arise again. Only those pupils who can afford to pay for private instrumental music tuition will be in a position to take qualifications in Music or play in bands and ensembles. Children and young people from socio-economically deprived areas will not have this opportunity or the opportunity for rich engagement with Music to enhance achievement or health and wellbeing. This is contrary to the policy intent of the Manifesto commitments.

We are a small charity that listens to young people on issues that affect their progress and prosperity. We are hearing how local secondary schools are operating policies that disproportionally exclude young people in particular young people from African and Carribbean backgrounds. Our young people have seen how these policies have conspired against them and do not want to see any more cases where young people are being stripped searched by Police in schools. We also want to bring more fairness to secondary schools by ensuring policies are not disproportionately affecting their well being. We are currently undertaking a survey of young people in our borough Hackney and beyond to evaluate this impact and we wish to share the views expressed by over 200 children and young people from 16 - 25 years. We want you to ensure: 1. All schools behavioural policies are consulted on by its young people. 2. Police in schools are reviewed monthly to make their involvement accountable to young people and parents. 3. Allow schools to become part of the community and encourage schools to be transparent about exclusions and how this is now being managed. 4. Head masters are held accountable for their staff actions 5. Ensuring more localised accountability for academy secondary schools. We hope to see changes in the way secondary schools administrates it's behaviour codes and ensures there is local more accountability for decisions and greater involvement of young people and parents. We also want to stop anymore incidences of Child Q.

Research shows us that students in the UK are regularly witnessing and experiencing racism within their schools. This is also evident from recent headlines and news stories which range from hair discrimination, higher rates of exclusion for students from the global majority, issues of adultification as seen in the case of Child Q and most recently the disturbing video of a black child being viciously assaulted outside their school. One of the major ways we can ensure the safety of our students is to equip school leaders and staff with a basic understanding of the issues that face employees and students from the global majority in education. We already know that schools leaders and teachers are overwhelmingly white so this is an area in which they need time to study, reflect and understand how not being racialised as white will give you a very different experience and perspective of the education system in this country. Did you know: -More than 60,000 racist incidents were recorded in UK schools over a five-year period. -95% of young Black people report that they have heard and witnessed the use of racist language at school. -Almost 90% of teachers are not trained to prevent racism in schools -70% of young Black people have felt the need to change their hair to be “more professional” at work or school. -92.5% of headteachers are White British with 86% having an all white leadership team. -Ethnic minority candidates are less likely to be accepted onto teacher training than their white counterparts

We all know that picket lines aren't where any teacher wants to be. They want to be in classrooms, teaching our children. But teachers’ pay is falling way behind inflation, school buildings across the country are crumbling, the numbers of qualified teachers is falling, and some teachers are suffering from burnout and leaving the profession in droves. They have no other option. We know teachers across the country haven’t taken this decision lightly. They aren’t to blame for the crisis in education, the Government has caused this mess. And the Government are the only ones who can sort this out. If enough of us throw our weight behind a huge open letter, together we can show that parents, grandparents - all of us - are on the side of teachers. It could be enough to make the Education Secretary, the Chancellor and the Prime Minister get round the table and give teachers the pay deal they deserve, and get the strikes called off.

Closing the nursery and children’s centre site on Cannon Rd will: – Force out the popular Explorers Nursery – Deprive over 50 local children of a quality early education – Cut affordable childcare for 28 working parents, who could in turn lose their jobs – Slash 6 nursery places for the lowest-income families – Disrupt crucial support services for vulnerable families such as mother and baby healthcare, and adult education & training. As the nursery manager, I know what a vital service our Explorers team and the children’s centre provide for the whole community. We help families from all backgrounds with children from some of the least-advantaged areas of Ramsgate, as well as supporting working parents too. It’s hard to overstate the importance of early education in giving children the best life chances possible and their parents the time they need to work. Parents always tell me how proud they are of the nursery and what a relief it is to find quality childcare nearby. There is already a serious shortfall of nursery places in Ramsgate – and especially for the hardest-hit families, according to KCC’s own figures. If KCC goes ahead with its plans to shut the children’s centre, it will be a double loss for local families: one, we will have to close the nursery and two, they will lose the wider services of the centre, such as an on-site health visitor. That’s why we’re calling on Roger Gough, Leader of Kent County Council, Rory Love, KCC Member for Education and Skills and all the KCC councillors to re-think these plans in the light of these devastating impacts. I hope you will help us and add your name to the petition before KCC's plans are set to be finalised at the end of March. Thank you so much for your support! It means the world to my team and all the families we work with. Clair Jones, Explorers Nursery Manager PS. Read more about the plans on the Isle of Thanet news website: https://theisleofthanetnews.com/2023/01/18/proposed-closure-of-priory-childrens-centre-in-ramsgate-will-mean-loss-of-popular-explorers-nursery/ PPS. You can also find the full details of KCC’s proposals here: https://letstalk.kent.gov.uk/community-services-consultation

Having moved from City of Edinburgh Council to Midlothian Council I was surprised to find that there are no arrangements for interlibrary loans between the two Councils. Compared to the City of Edinburgh, Midlothian naturally has a smaller Council with much fewer public libraries, most of which are quite small in size and selection. 1. This puts the people in the more rural areas around Edinburgh at a considerable disadvantage, particularly those who are less mobile and find it difficult to travel, with few or no buses connections between the towns of Midlothian. 2. Public libraries are instrumental in “levelling up” and closing the attainment gap. 3. They serve a wide section of the population from families to the elderly and people with disabilities. Would the two Councils please consider introducing interlibrary loan facilities to provide equal opportunities for the rural areas.

Anyone who knows young people who get stressed by maths, or remember being stressed by maths, or simply want to protect student choice

Black history is our history. Teaching school children the stories of Black people in Britain down the centuries should be just as an important part of history lessons. Black people have lived in Britain for centuries. Black communities have been on these islands since the 1500s. They include a trumpeter in Henry VII’s court, a seaman in the battle of Trafalgar and soldiers fighting for Britain in both world wars. Britain’s involvement in the slave trade also spanned more than two centuries. Yet Black history is rarely taught in history lessons in UK schools. In 2013 then Secretary of State Michael Gove effectively made the teaching of Black history optional by removing the national curriculum’s compulsory section stating that students must study the British history of colonialism and slavery. While the current curriculum gives schools the option to teach Black history, few incorporate it into the syllabus. Recent data found that less than 11% of GCSE students are studying modules that refer to Black people’s contribution to Britain. Out of the 59 GCSE history modules put together by the nation’s biggest exam board, Edexcel, AQA and OCR, just five reference Black history in Britain.  Failing to teach Black history in schools deprives all students of the knowledge that will enable them to relate to their peers and live in today’s diverse Britain. It also has damaging implications for Black British students, impacting on their own self-identification and sense of belonging. Click here for our brilliant website packed with stories featuring characters from Black history - and Black future: https://blackhistory.shareyourstories.live

Many children are still missing out on a full meal. My daughter is entitled to free school meals and the daily allowance is set at £2.50 a day . In her school they have just taken on a new private catering contractor. A small chicken burger costs £2.40 thus leaving her no money to buy a piece of fruit or dessert or even a drink. I am having to either send her in with additional supplies or as I am currently doing, adding money each week to her account (which can only be done at a minimum of £5 at a time , thus penalising vulnerable families with a double edged sword so to speak).

QMUL UNISON Branch Committee has calculated that Queen Mary has been underpaying some of its lowest paid staff – including cleaners, porters, Catering, Security and Library staff – by up to £500 a year. These underpayments have profound equalities implications. Their impact has disproportionately been felt by BAPoC staff and women. In December 2019, the university’s own Equal Pay Audit raised concerns about pay discrimination, finding that the pay structure was “inconsistently applied and overly complex.” While this report raises questions about how long the university has known about the discrepancy, a recognition of the error from the University and a strong commitment to redress it is non-negotiable. We noticed this discrepancy while we were trying to calculate how much Queen Mary staff receive as a London Allowance. As you will know, the London Allowance is supposed to be a flat amount awarded to all staff on top of the national pay settlement to reflect the high cost of living in the capital. However, while other universities (such as King’s and UCL) pay the same allowance to all of their staff and publish a clear breakdown of how much they award, Queen Mary is currently far less transparent. QMUL "consolidated" its allowance into basic pay in 2005. When we initially contacted HR to ask how much it was, they were unable to tell us. As the allowance is consolidated into basic pay and therefore subject to the same pay increases, the underpayment effectively means that the lowest paid staff have also seen a cut in their London Allowance. Catering and Security staff who should now be receiving a larger cost of living adjustment than their higher paid colleagues, are instead receiving a smaller one. Even for those of us who haven't been affected by this underpayment, QMUL’s London Allowance is woefully inadequate. At £3,330 it is significantly lower than the amount received by staff at SOAS, Westminster, UCL and Kings. This has a knock-on effect for the university’s ability to attract staff and remain competitive. According to the latest research by the Trust for London, London weighting allowances would need to be increased to at least £6,549 to cover a basic standard of living. That research was conducted in 2021, before the staggering inflation we've seen this year. We therefore ask the university to commit to a significant increase in the London Allowance, to give staff some protection from the spiralling cost of living. QMUL, give us our pay!

The school was built as an infant school, and is only suitable for 25 smaller students per classroom. But because there isn't enough classrooms the joint classes mean there are 30 or over Key stage 2 aged students in 2 of the classrooms. There is also no room for new students to join as classes are full, so the school is unable to grow as it otherwise naturally would do. Children are currently in split classes which was meant to be a temporary solution but is rolling into another academic year now. The promised 2 year old nursery provision which would hugely help outcomes in early years cannot go ahead for another year.