General Election 2017: Association asks candidates to sign up to education pledges

One headteacher has appealed for donations of pencils, paper and crayons.

The National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) has asked all of Cumbria's MP candidates to sign up to its five pledges for education:

• To fund it fully and fairly, reversing the cuts
• Commit to a national recruitment and retention strategy
• Adopt fair methods to hold schools to account, not just exam results
• Value a broad range of subjects
• Ensure schools are supported by health and care services.

We asked each candidate if they were going to sign up:

Barrow and Furness

Loraine Birchall (Lib Dem)

Yes, I've signed. Cutting education is a short sighted thing. We have a skill gap that we need to stop. We need to stop meddling and let teachers teach. There is far too much cutting and meddling.

Rob O'Hara (Green)

Firstly, I agree with all five pledges, but I would go even further. I believe that the number, and nature, of the tests that pupils have to face are one of the main reasons for the increase in stress-related illnesses among young people.

I believe that we should scrap national testing for anyone under 16, have teacher assessment for entry into Sixth Form, and widen the scope of A-levels to be more in line with the International Baccalaureate.

I believe that the curriculum, for years 10 and 11, is far too narrow, and that students are allowed to stop studying important subjects far too early. I believe that all students should study a much wider range of subjects, including the arts, for at least five years of secondary education, and to scrap GCSE exams in order to be able to accomplish this.

John Woodcock (Lab)

I have already signed. I trained as a teaching assistant to be able to understand the situation better. Barrow needs an extra boost to help. We are doing everything we can to try and stop it affecting the classroom. Delighted to sign."

Alan Piper (Ukip) No response

Simon Fell (Con) No response

Carlisle

Ruth Alcroft (Lab)

Yes, I've signed. I was pleased to see such a turnout at the Carlisle rally, and to hear such messages of support for the campaign. It is great to see parents taking the lead in this. Their message to politicians and the Government is clear: our children are important, their education is important. These funding cuts must be reversed.

Fiona Mills (Ukip)

I'm in agreement with absolutely everything except the part about grammar schools, so I can't fully sign up. We (Ukip) have a solution to that.

Assessment at 11 is not right for everyone, so why can't they go later if they excel. I am supporting everything in these pledges apart from that. We will reintroduce grammar schools but with flexibility.

John Stevenson (Con)

Quite simply I'm not sure it achieves very much having these pledges. When i was an MP I met with headteachers and I also met with ministers to express concerns. If you read the Conservative manifesto I think some of those have been addressed. The intention is that no school should lose out. I have been meeting with Government ministers and persuading them to change their approach.

Peter Thornton (Lib Dem)

I’m signing up. A first class education should be available to all, nit just those who can afford to send their children to private schools

Copeland

Herbie Crossman (Ukip)

I intend to sign up. We can't deny our children a bright future to be educated.

Rebecca Hanson (Lib Dem)

I've signed. The Tories and now collapsing education funding and are imposing cuts which are equivalent to the salaries of over 700 teachers just in Cumbria. The Liberal Democrats will reverse these cuts and ensure that per pupil spending on education is protected.

Trudy Harrison (Con)

I will not be signing the pledge as it’s based on false information, but I will be visiting every school in the constituency.

Gillian Troughton (Lab)

Yes, I've signed. Education is what empowers us to reach our full potential. When it fails, it isn’t just the individual that is held back but all of us. When we invest in people to develop their skills and capabilities, we all benefit from a stronger economy and society.

Penrith and the Border

Jonathan Davies (Ind)

I have pledged my support for our schools, for our children's future and for the teachers providing education. It is vital that schools get the funding they need now but also funding for the future, to make sure children have the skills our industries will require as we move forward, leave the European Union and implement Brexit.

Neil Hughes (Lib Dem)

I have signed because it makes sense. It's so obvious, and its a shame that the Government hasn't recognised this. Instead they are preoccupied with free schools and their grammar school hobby horse. We also nee to make regulation is not used for political purposes.

Douglas Lawson (Green)

Schools across Cumbria are seeing their curriculum and staff seriously threatened by budget reductions as a result of this Government’s austerity measures. I will do all I can to reverse the trend and ensure fair and sufficient funding for all schools.

Lola McEvoy (Lab)

For me, signing the NAHT 5 pledges was a no-brainer.

Labour's record on education is second to none and the Tories are cutting funding to our schools - that will harm the next generation.

It's inexcusable. Theresa May is trying to pull the wool over the eyes of concerned parents with her recent manifesto pledge - but it's nowhere near enough money, even with this pledge schools will have their funding cut.

Under the Tories, children in this constituency, and all over the country, will have fewer options, restricted access to extra curricular activities and less educational and mental health support in the classrooms.

Labour will make sure all schools are fully funded, cap class sizes at 30 for five, six and seven-year-olds and will protect and develop teachers and support workers.

The NAHT are a trusted body of headteachers who have felt forced to speak out and I'm proud to support them.

Kerryanne McKay Wilde (Ukip)

I have signed up to it because personally, as a parent, I have seen how drastic these cuts have been to schools already.

Also, if more cuts come in, a child like mine with special educational needs will suffer drastically. The party wants to see full wrap around care for schoolchildren.

Rory Stewart (Con) - No response

Workington

Sue Hayman (Lab)

I have signed up to the NAHT pledges because I think it’s absolutely vital that all of our schools are given the resources they need.

A Labour government will make sure schools receive fair funding and will tackle the teacher recruitment and retention crisis, investing in our children’s future and properly equipping them for working life.

Roy Ivinson (Ind)

I would give the teaching profession the money they ask for. This country needs a world class education system, the teaching profession are not getting the respect they think they deserve because we don't have one and they cannot escape some responsibility for it.

Teachers and people who run schools should be given a much greater say in how a school is run. They should be given a five-year contract to run a school and paid on the basis of the results they achieve. If it's not good enough the contract should not be renewed.

Clark Edward Vasey (Con)

I support 100 per cent education in the area. We get a lot of campaigns to sign up to but I don't sign up to individual campaigns. I will be a strong voice for the area in education.

George Kemp (Ukip)

I agree in principal to the NAHT pledges but have not signed up to these priorities.

Phill Roberts (Lib Dem) - No response

Westmorland and Lonsdale

James Airey (Con)

I am happy to sign this. As a parent and school governor I understand the issues our schools face and as a local MP I will fight for the best deal I can for our schools.

Eli Aldridge (Lab)

I am proud to support the NAHT's five pledges. Labour will reverse the cruel Conservative cuts to ensure that our young people benefit from an equal education system for all. Labour will enable each and everyone to find their own path by widening the options for courses and qualifications.

Tim Farron (Lib Dem)

I am fully supportive of the NAHT’s five priorities. The Conservatives’ plans to slash £28million from our schools will mean losing 746 teachers across Cumbria. This would have a devastating impact on our children’s education – leaving them in overcrowded classes and taught by overworked teachers. The Lib Dems would reverse these cuts and instead invest in education to give every child a fair chance in life.

Mr Fishfinger (Ind) - No response