The news you’ve been waiting for: the total number of “outstanding” schools in Kent to become academies at the start of this term is … two. They are Westlands School in Sittingbourne and its federated primary school, Woodgrove Primary. No blush on the face of Michael Gove, the accident-prone education secretary, however, after he forecast that a wave of schools would convert at the start of the new academic year.

Note: There are five Kent schools, including The Knowle Academy in Sevenoaks which become “conventional” academies this month.

The Coalition claim that: “There is no alternative to massive cuts now: it’s the fault of the Labour government’s  overspending”.  There are two problems with this line: Labour spent a great deal of money propping up the banks who had brought on the financial crisis.  Until then, spending was well under control.  The other is that paying back the debt too fast is likely to lead to deeper recession – the so-called “double-dip”.

Lessons were learned in the Great Depression of the Thirties, the event most comparable to our current situation.  Then countries vied with one another to cut spending, sending international trade into a downward spiral and causing massive unemployment.  Today the Government says that, by radically cutting public spending, the public sector will be freed to create jobs.  But experience says that this is a forlorn hope, not least because industry relies so heavily on public spending for contracts.

George Osborne claims that his Budget was “progressive” in that the burden would fall on those that could best afford it   But the recent report from the independent Institute for Fiscal Studies says that that the low-paid would be the biggest losers.  We await with trepidation the Autumn Statement that will set out the Coalition cuts in full.

It is becoming increasingly clear that the Tories are returning to type: they’re using the scare of the deficit to cut public spending permanently, especially when it supports the less well-off.  And as the Tories use the crisis as cover for a return to the austerity of Thirties, so the Liberal Democrats provide cover – and the Parliamentary majority – to push their regressive programme through.

In the Thirties, just like now, the Tory-led National government roamed the land wielding an axe in the face of an international financial crisis which had its roots in the USA, ensuring Britain stayed mired in recession for years.  It was the Liberals – and especially John Maynard Keynes – who pointed out the folly of this:  he said that governments should support spending in a recession.  Similarly it was Beveridge – a Liberal – who set the course for the post-war welfare state which linked to Keynsian ideas brought the prosperity we have all enjoyed.

Where are the Liberal Democrats now?  Do grass-roots Liberals believe that the lure of office requires dumping decades of progressive policies?

To finish on a note of hope: the wheels are already falling off one of the Tories’ hastily constructed policies – the fast-track procedure to academy status.   Despite gormless Gove’s boasting, only four schools in Kent are still on course: those given “early approval” are Canterbury High School, Dartford Boys Grammar; Fulston Manor School in Sittingbourne and The Hayesbrook School, Tonbridge.  Were you consulted?

If you wish to join Labour, go to www.labour.org and sign up now.

After boasting about the huge numbers of schools about to sign up as academies, reality dawned on Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education, as only two schools in West Kent make an application.  They are Weald of Kent Grammar School and The Hayesbrook School, both in Tonbridge.  The girls’ grammar school and the boys’ secondary school are unlikely to have consulted staff, pupils or parents on this major issue, given the time available.  Nationally, the total applying is 153, down from the figure approaching 2,000 that Gove had claimed.

He’s also in trouble over the “Free” School applications: down from a figure of 700 mentioned earlier to 62 now.  It’s not clear at present how many there might be in Kent.

If you are a parent of a child at Weald of Kent or Hayesbrook and don’t like this, make your views known to the head teacher or governors.  You can read more about academies and see a model  letter on the site of the Anti Academy Alliance: www.antiacademies.org.uk

It’s the end of a bad week for the coalition as Nick Clegg makes a pig’s ear of prime minister’s questions, David Cameron fails to convince on his Big Society, and Michael Gove’s ill thought-out academies bill is rushed through parliament.  We’re now seeing the reality of a right-wing conservative administration propped up by power-hungry Lib-Dems: no wonder they’re tumbling in the polls – down to 13% in this week’s YouGov poll.

          If Gove gets his way next week, the face of education will be changed radically – and for the worse.  Already eight secondary schools in West Kent have made enquiries about becoming academies.  That could become reality as early as September if the legislation is carried next week.  Grammar schools would move from democratic local control, making an already unfair system worse.  And Gove’s free schools proposals gives taxpayers’ money to parent, commercial or religious groups to set up their own idea of what a school should be – however exclusive or hare-brained.  Remaining local authority schools will lose out.

          Parliament is being asked to back a series of untried, half-baked ideas with no time to consider them fully.  Pupils and teachers could find themselves in an academy when the new term stars in September, without being asked.  What choice is that?  Despite claims that the government believes in “localism”, all these new schools would be directly answerable to Mr Gove; in effect national schools.

          Meanwhile, David Cameron’s notions of a Big Society come down to hit and miss public services provided on the cheap.  No-one wants to decry real voluntary work in the community; in Tonbridge and Malling we have volunteers who organise local activities of all kinds.  But do you really want volunteer policemen?  Amateur social workers?  Untrained teachers?

          How can Nick Clegg and his party support this?

          If you are concerned about these issues, you should consider joining Tonbridge and Malling Labour Party as 28 people like you have done since April.  Use the link on this site to the national Labour Party or email tonbridgekent-labour@yahoo.com.

The arrogant but accident-prone education secretary, Michael Gove, has had to own up to 25 errors on his documentation spelling out the details of how he would axe Labour’s Building Schools for the Future programme, which he announced just four days ago.  Several schools have found to their horror that schemes they had been assured were safe are now for the chop.  Tonbridge and Malling is largely untouched by the plans, although residents in Sevenoaks are concerned about the planned new Knole Academy.  Paul Carter, KCC leader, says he is: “Surprised and disappointed”.

In addition, Gove’s mad-cap Free Schools scheme, which – if it ever sees the light of day – threatens to deprive local authorities of funds in order to appease middle-class zealots who the state system is not good enough for their offspring and want taxpayers’ cash for their often harebrained or sinister plans.

Now, Gove is moving with indecent haste to whip schools in Kent into opting for academy status this September.  In barely eight weeks’ time – while schools are closed for the summer and without consultation, least of all asking parents what they think – some schools will be able to leave local authority control, choose their own curriculum and set their own entrance rules.  What’s more, they will be beyond the reach of Freedom of Information requests and so able to disregard local opinion altogether.

This is by any standard government by diktat and Kent County Council should resist Gove’s proposals.  If implemented, grammar schools designated as outstanding by Ofsted will drift further from the community they were set up to serve.  Already grammars in West Kent are skewing the system against Kent children by selecting pupils from outside the County, depriving our children of places they deserve.

Labour believes in a root and branch overhaul of secondary education in Kent to provide a fairer system for all.  The Conservatives who run Kent County Council are gazing in horror at the prospect of losing control of a substantial number of schools they now control.  “It’s too fast”, cries Cllr Hohler, cabinet member for education.  Perhaps the Tories loyal supporters who go through fire to get their children into the existing grammar will take against it all anyway.  After all, weren’t those academies designed for the oiks?

Secondary schools designated “outstanding” by Ofsted in West Kent who have made preliminary enquiries about becoming an academy include: Tonbridge Grammar School; Hayesbrook School and The Judd School.  Others considering applying are: Bennett Memorial; Hillview School; Mascalls School; Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar and Wrotham School.  If they all leave local control, education in  Kent will become a free-for-all where only the well-off take the best at public expense.

At its Annual General Meeting on 20 June, Tonbridge & Malling Labour Party agreed to back David Miliband for party leader by passing a Supporting Nomination.  This will appear on the main  Labour Party web site.  Secretary Jim Parish announced that, since the election, 17 new members had joined the Labour Party locally and that he expected more to come.

Join Labour through the Labour Party link and you can cast your vote for party leader.  The result will be announced at the start of  the  Labour Party Conference on Saturday September 24.

The new Lib-Con coalition has certainly caused a reaction: a wave of protest – amongst Lib-Dem members and supporters.  Here’s a selection of recent postings on the Tonbridge and Malling Lib-Dem web site:

Mela
I voted lib-dem and all I got was this lousy Tory government.

Stu
I have never felt so betrayed, disgusted and let down by any single politician.  I have just joined the Labour party to fight the blue and yellow (an appropriate colour) coalition.

Nik
It does appear Nick Clegg is a Tory in Lib Dem clothes. I won’t be delivering anymore Lib Dem party Literature and my vote will go to the Labour Party in future.

I have already destroyed my membership card and a letter cancelling my membership will be in the post tomorrow.  I feel totally betrayed and I see no choice but to vote Labour from now on.

Salaka
Selling out to the Tories will lose so much support in the future, including mine.

Rachel
The Lib Dems have betrayed millions of voters tonight.  I was told that a vote for Labour was a wasted vote and only the lib dems could beat the Tories here.  What a joke.  I am absolutely furious and look forward to your party being trounced at the next election.

Harry
This won’t be a Government heavily influenced by “Liberal values and instincts”.  It’s a TORY Government with a few appeasing caveats.

The people who voted Lib Dem in good faith (myself included) have a right to feel horribly betrayed and let down.  May as well have voted Conservative.

Muxloe
A handful of ‘progressive’ policies will not be enough to placate people who see George Osbourne slashing public spending and William Hague being the face of Britain abroad.  Enjoy your moment in the sun because there are dark and cold days ahead.

If you feel the same, contact Tonbridge & Malling Labour Party about supporting or joining us.