Education

It is well known UKIP policy to encourage a Grammar School in every town if the residents so desire. Grammar Schools are not however the only and simple answer for all our needs. They are a statement of a policy to move towards an education system, geared to providing all our young people with a specialist and more focused education for each of their separate and individual needs. A one size fits all is NOT fit for purpose in today’s 21^st Century world. 

Grammar Schools are just a first step on a path of streaming young people in learning environments which are focused and equipped to bring out the best in them and to hone their individual talents into career opportunities. Those top 1,000 or so young people who are talented enough to become major league footballers, deserve the right to a specialist education in just the same way as those gifted in foreign languages or physics.

What I am saying is, that although I believe it is essential to educate our most academically gifted, irrespective of their back grounds or how much their parent’s earn, focused learning paths for all talents are required. Equipping all our young people to be properly qualified to get the best jobs which match their talents is what education is all about. Education means training and preparing our young people for their futures. Skills and courses in practical trades are as equally essential as Academic Schools or Artistic Institutes. I would suggest that the only reason we now need to import plumbers from Poland is because we failed to train our own talented youngsters in the past.

On a broader and more general note, I believe that basic reading and writing skills are essential before any student should be allowed to leave the education system, irrespective of age. I also believe that basic educational needs can be best delivered in small classes where youngsters who are getting a little behind their peers, can have concerted lessons in basic English reading, writing and arithmetic.

We must likewise nurture the British ability to be entrepreneurs, whether the required ability is intellectual, engineering, scientific or practical. All of our Nation’s talents must be afforded equal respect and equal resources. To be a qualified ‘Herr Doktor Engineur’ in Germany is a pinnacle of achievement; the same should be so here. We automatically respect a Professor of English at Oxford, equally we should respect a Doctor of Engineering at Cambridge.

I hear teachers say they are fed up with, ‘another Government, another set of new initiatives’. What Education needs in my view, is a lot more stability. A Student’s learning starts at age 5 and should continue to 18 at least. Continually changing systems and curricula within this 13 years period is most unhelpful and is not conducive to good learning. I made this point recently at the NUT hosted Question Time at Calder High, the audience did not seem to agree; very many have contacted me since my remarks were reported in the Halifax Courier to applaud what I said. It is common sense; it is what UKIP stands for.

UKIP would introduce an option for students to take an Apprenticeship Qualification, instead of four non-GCSE’s which could be continued through to A level.

Students could take up apprenticeships in jobs with certified professionals who are qualified to grade the progress of the student.

Subject to academic performance, UKIP will remove tuition fees entirely for students taking approved degrees in science, technology, medicine, engineering or maths on the condition that they live, work and pay tax in the UK for 5 years after completing their degrees.

We would scrap the target of 50% of school leavers going to university. University isn’t the answer for every one. It’s just one form of higher education, no better or worse than an Institute for Arts or a Sports College.

Students from EU countries would pay the same fees as any other international students.

UKIP supports the principle of Free Schools that are open to the whole community and uphold British values.

Schools would be investigated by OFSTED on the presentation of a petition to the Department of Education signed by 25% of parents or governors. This measure to ensure that schools can not hi-jacked by radical or other elements who do not teach British values.

And, in closing, as I mentioned in my opening remarks, existing schools will be allowed to apply to become Grammar Schools and select according to ability and aptitude. Selection ages would be flexible and determined by the school in conjunction with the Local Authority. This representing the first steps in a more individual and less comprehensive attitude to education.

Paul Rogan, UKIP PPC Calder Valley, GE2015.

Promoted, published & printed by Paul Rogan on behalf of himself & Calderdale Branch UKIP, both at 363 Stainland Rd, Stainland, HX4 9HF.