Cameron Promises Classroom Demand Will Be Met

Prime Minister David Cameron believes enough school places will be found in Barnet to meet unprecedented recent demand and provide a platform for his government’s new curriculum.

Prime Minister 'confident' Government will provide school places

Peter Beal / Via times-series.co.uk

by Chris Hewett

Prime Minister David Cameron believes enough school places will be found in Barnet to meet unprecedented recent demand and provide a platform for his government’s new curriculum.

The Conservative leader spoke to the Times Series on a visit to St Mary’s and St John’s Primary School in Prothero Road, Hendon, this morning – on the day Education Secretary Michael Gove announced his new education framework.

Barnet Council needs to find more than 3,360 primary school places in the next four years but the Prime Minister said he feels confident spaces will be made available.

He said: “I’m confident we will provide the school places that are needed. We’ve already added 190,000 under this government, the funding is there in terms of the £5billion pledged to deal with it.

“This school is a good example – it’s opening a new secondary school here in Barnet and of course you’ve got the new free school so we’re taking action across the board.”

Primary schools in Barnet were rated among the best in the country earlier this year but Mr Cameron said the new curriculum will push students and staff even further.

He said: “They’re doing well but the point of having a new curriculum is we’ve been looking across the world at those countries and schools that are doing the best and we should measure ourselves against the best.

“We need the very best curriculum and I think this curriculum does two very important things – making sure we have the best of the old and the new.

“We’re always asking teachers to do more and I respect and understand that, but teachers have an immense vocation and dedication to their profession and they know you have to have a continuous improvement – the rest of the world doesn’t stand still and we can’t stand still.”

Listen to the full interview via this link.