CAMDEN COUNCIL CUTS - Music and refugee services + 'Aim Higher' scheme facing axe as Town Hall awaits cutbacks

Published: 06 January 2011
by RICHARD OSLEY

A SERIES of support jobs in Camden’s schools are set to be axed and there were warnings last night (Wednesday) that the future of the entire schools music service is at risk as government grants come to an end.

Labour’s finance chief Councillor Theo Blackwell said that he was still waiting to be told by Whitehall how far the music service will be funded. It includes lessons in playing different instruments and the celebrated schools concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, often compered by Channel 4 newsreader Jon Snow.

“It could be 10 per cent or the entire service cut – the cruel thing is we are still being kept waiting,” said Cllr Blackwell.

But he warned that it was already becoming clear that government grants would not be renewed for a series of posts in the borough’s secondary schools.

A list of roles likely to be cut or discontinued include borough co-ordinators in sexual health education, sports and refugee children sports services.

The Aim Higher scheme, a programme aimed at encouraging sixth-formers to apply for university, is also said to be under threat. The “extended schools” programme of using school buildings after the school day for activities is also expected to be curbed.

In the past, Camden Council made a conspicuous effort to spend more money than other London boroughs on education. But when the responsibility for extra funding switched to Whitehall spending levels dropped. The Town Hall now say that due to major cuts in public spending, it can’t step in to save the services under threat.

Cllr Blackwell said: “The government promised to protect education and health – people who voted for them are now finding that they aren’t  getting what they voted for. 

“Education hasn’t been protected from cuts. The government has just moved money around. 

“We will be losing lots of services, some of which were considered exceptional and really made a difference.”

Teaching unions fear cutting support and extra-curricular activities will heap extra pressure on staff in schools.

Andrew Baisley, from the Camden branch of the National Union of Teachers, said: “With something like the refugee children’s support, which helps pupils smoothly join in with lessons when they first come to this country, if you take that away, teachers’ time is diverted from the rest of the class. It not only affects the children that need that extra support but everybody else’s children as well.”