With the consultation on the Local Plan now live, I have been meeting with residents to listen to their concerns. You can find more details below.
As readers will know, I have long campaigned to protect our Green Belt – and I remain horrified by the Government’s determination to concrete over it under the misleading banner of so-called “Grey Belt.” The Prime Minister promised that “Grey Belt” would mean ugly, disused land. But, the reality is that it threatens the beautiful local green spaces that define our community and quality of life. I’ll continue to stand with residents, parish councils, and community groups – making formal representations and pressing Ministers to rethink this damaging policy.
If you want to get involved, please do consider responding to the Sevenoaks District Council consultation, and signing the national petition calling for the Government to reconsider its definition of the “Grey Belt”: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/725558.
This month, many of you have also been in touch with me to voice your shock – which I share - at the decision by the Government to suddenly change the funding formula for the International Baccalaureate (IB) from next September.
This funding is vital to cover the extra teaching time the IB requires, and without it, many local schools now face real challenges in delivering the programme effectively.
To add insult to injury, this decision was taken without consultation or an impact assessment, and was announced during the Parliament conference recess - just the latest example of Government cutting funding to education programmes, trying to avoid scrutiny, and lowering standards for our children.
Locally the impacts are huge. Tonbridge Grammar School has already announced it will no longer offer the IB from next year as a result of the change. Dartford Grammar School - the largest IB provider in the country - has raised serious concerns about how the withdrawal of funding will impact over 600 pupils, and many students and parents from Knole Academy have been in touch to share their worries. Pupils have already committed to the IB curriculum, and the cuts risk disrupting their education at a crucial stage. It is unacceptable.
I have written to the Secretary of State calling for the Government to ensure schools can continue offering it, and provide stability for students who have already committed to this path. I await her reply. In the meantime, I will continue to press the Government on this issue and fight for local schools and their pupils whose education and futures are at stake.
If there is anything I can do to support you and your family, please do not hesitate to get in touch at: [email protected].
Laura Trott
MP for Sevenoaks and Swanley
To see Laura's newsletter in full click here