Arrowvale Success Shared With Labour Shadow Education Minister

Rebecca with Megan, Tristram and Shamm

During last week's visit I was once again delighted to see how far Arrowvale has come.  It was a pleasure to have Shadow Education Secretary Tristram Hunt MP seeing first hand what has been achieved and what is needed from a future Labour government in order to give our young people the best opportunities for their future.

Megan, Head Girl and Shamm, Head Boy were the perfect guides, giving us a tour of the school and pointing out some of the superb facilities including the refurbished sixth form and science block in between sharing their hopes for their future.

A special thanks to the art teacher and class who waited in their lunch break in order that we could see their work.  The students are producing excellent pieces some of which is demonstrated in the schools 2014 calendar below.

It was good to see the school has retained its construction classroom, despite it no longer being on the curriculum.  I want to see schools where academia, vocational skills and creative subjects can be studied and all pupils can fulfil their potential.

Having seen some excellent classroom based teaching and learning, the discussion with a group of pupils from across the year groups gave me a further insight into school life at Arrowvale.  Not only are the young people engaged in their subjects they are involved in student council, committees and after school clubs which extends their learning and experience.  

One of the main things that stood out to me, was the interest in the whole person alongside academic achievement.  All disciplines are seeking to develop their pupils socially, morally, spiritually and culturally.  I am sure this approach will help emotional wellbeing, building the resilience that the young people need for the challenges ahead.

I would like to acknowledge the leadership of the Headteacher Mr Shears who has turned the school around from being at the bottom of schools in Worcestershire to being top and for the best 8 value added reaching the top 2% nationally - all in just three years.  I am sure with the dedicated team at Arrowvale and the close working with Ipsley Middle School, Arrowvale will continue with this upward trajectory.  This kind of collaboration between schools needs to be built upon within and across the school pyramids and only then will we get the best outcomes for all young people across Redditch. 

It is clear to me that the next Labour government should give teachers the tools to do a great job, then get out of the way and let them teach.  Let's inspire the brightest and the best students to become first class teachers and that means standing up for good teachers and showing their profession respect.  While at the same time I want a Labour Government that makes failing schools accountable to parents and pupils and one that will work to eliminate acceptance of sub standard education in our society.  I've said it before, our young people get one shot at school and we must do everything we can to give them the best start.

For more information visit:

Megan's Blog

Redditch Standard
 


Chad's City Scape was even better up close!

Our local hospital is facing a downgrade

Speaking after the publication of the proposals on the future of the Alex Hospital in Redditch, Labour's Parliamentary candidate Rebecca Blake said:

"Despite the warm words, lets be frank this is a bad day for Redditch. Our local hospital is facing a downgrade.

"There are no guarantees whatsoever that children will continue to be born in Redditch and difficult births will certainly take place elsewhere.  A midwifery-led unit where the risks are the same as a home birth is no replacement for the consultant-led maternity department we have now.

"55,000 people signed a petition against any proposal that takes away maternity services. To roll over now would be a betrayal to all those people who stood up to keep services at the Alex.

"2,100 births happen every year at the Alex, because of these proposals only the most straight forward births could continue to take place in Redditch. This simply isn't good enough.

"I have seen no solid proposals that guarantee direct public transport from Redditch to Worcester, to cope with the increased demand brought about by this downgrade.

"Under this Tory-led Government maternity services will be unrecognisable and evening care for children will be limited to say the least."

For more details

CCG

Standard

Why are Redditch passengers facing above average rail fare hikes for second year running?

Today Rebecca Blake, Labour's Parliamentary Spokesperson for Redditch will be at the Redditch train station speaking to passengers about this year's rail fare hikes.

Rebecca said "This year Redditch passengers are hit again with above average rail fare increases.  An anytime return ticket now costs £7.10 and I am worried how people will afford to get to work or to study when every year the cost of fares snowball.  Some fares have gone up over 4% and after last year's hikes being above the government's cap, it's particularly unfair that the same passengers are having to fork out again for above average increases. 

With the cost of living crisis, wages are not covering the essentials and people are already struggling to pay their bills.  I want the government to stand up to train companies who are disproportionately piling on the cost of travel for Redditch passengers and I will be writing to the Transport Secretary to let him know we are not happy with this in Redditch.

 

To read more from the Redditch Standard click here

Rebecca at Redditch Railway Station with local Councillors and James.

	2013 ticket prices	2014 ticket prices	Increase
Anytime day return	£6.90	£7.10	2.89%
Anytime single	£5.20	£5.40	4%
Anytime monthly season ticket	£119.50	£124.50	4.18%

 

 

Does Redditch have safe levels of ambulance cover?

 

Cllr Rebecca Blake, Labour's Parliamentary Spokesperson has raised concerns with West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) & Redditch & Bromsgrove Clinical Commissioning Group (RBCCG) about levels of ambulance cover in Redditch. 

"The ambulance service are receiving unprecedented levels of calls and I want to know when Redditch residents need an ambulance it wont be stuck in Worcester or Birmingham instead of being in Redditch, especially when B98 is the busiest area for the ambulance service in the County".

Eighteen months ago Labour Councillors fought against plans to locate all ambulances in Worcester and we were delighted to secure a second ambulance hub in the North of the County, albeit in Bromsgrove rather than Redditch.  At that time Redditch had two twenty four hour double crewed ambulances, a third ambulance giving daytime cover and a paramedic in a car.  Now WMAS are failing to give the same reassurance. 

Unhappy with two written responses received from the Chief Executive, Rebecca has submitted a Freedom of Information request to try and get to the bottom of whether Redditch is receiving reduced levels of ambulance cover.

"After a recent visit to the Bromsgrove Hub I could see what a sterling job paramedics are doing and under significant pressure.  However, to have a situation where ambulances are unavailable more often than they are available while at the same time having to take more and more Redditch patients to hospitals further away is putting patients at unnecessary risk.

For example, if someone had a stroke today, instead of a taking them a few miles up the road to the Alex, paramedics now have a forty mile round trip to Worcester which means the ambulance is not available for longer, but to date no extra provision has been made to deal with this.  I have written to WMAS and the RBCCG to see how they propose to deal with the increase in demand for ambulance services".

 

For more information from the Redditch Standard please click here

Freezing Bills Not People!

Labour's plan to freeze energy bills until 2017

 

 

Rebecca  with councillors Robin, Greg and Debbie in the town centre

As residents in Redditch face 10% increases in their energy bills this winter, today Rebecca Blake, Labour's Parliamentary Spokesperson hit the streets to ask locals whether they support an immediate price freeze for gas and electric.

Rebecca says "Under the Conservative led government gas and electricity bills have gone up £300 for the average household.  With the cost of living rising faster than wages people are worried how they will stay warm in the coming winter months.

 

 

“One resident voiced their anger that bills only go up, when the price of energy drops our bill doesn't go down.  Another family said they are already struggling to make ends meet and increasing fuel bills are a real worry".

 

 

“If Labour win the next general election, we will freeze prices until the start of 2017, this will save a typical household £120 and an average business £1,800.  We will create a new energy regulator that protects consumers and businesses from outrageous price hikes and we will break up the big energy companies .

 

 

“However, people in Redditch need help now.  So I’m calling on David Cameron to freeze our bills now.  And I’m asking local people to sign my petition so that the voices of Redditch are heard loud and clear in Downing Street”.

Syria

Syria came upon my radar during the onset of the Arab Spring in the Middle East.  However, President Assad's response to civil unrest has proved very different to that of neighbouring countries and since 2011 the death toll is near 100,000 and around 1 million people having been displaced. 

The 21st of August saw suspected chemical weapons used against the Syrian people resulting in at least 355 fatalities.  Tragically, not the first report of chemical weapons being used in Syria this year.  While Assad denies that the Government are behind the attacks, America believe that only Assad has the capabilities.  Use of chemical weapons is a violation of International Law and America, the UK Government, France and Turkey have been discussing a military response, with rumours of support from Israel, yet Russia, China and Iran standing firmly against.

In my view David Cameron went to Parliament too early to ask for MP's support to back force if necessary.  The vote against him will now make it all the more difficult for Britain to do so, should that become the right thing to do in the future.

Ed Miliband wrote to me yesterday stating what the Labour Party will need to be sure of before making a decision to support the use of force:

1) We must let the UN weapons inspectors do their work and report to the UN Security Council;

2) There must be compelling and internationally-recognised evidence that the Syrian regime was responsible for the chemical weapons attacks;

3) The UN Security Council should debate and vote on the weapons inspectors' findings and other evidence. This is the highest forum of the world's most important multilateral body and we must take it seriously;

4) There should be a clear legal basis in international law for taking military action to protect the Syrian people;

5) Any military action must be time limited, it must have precise and achievable objectives and it must have regard for the consequences of the future impact on the region.

I agree with Ed's requirements and I think he was right in the debate to say he does not rule out supporting the Prime Minister.    However, it would seem last night's defeat for the Government could see a stark change in how Britain responds to international atrocities.  From being a key player during the last century and the start of the 21st century, yet now moving towards the side lines.

For Britain it would seem military support has been kicked into the long grass.  However, I urge the Conservative led government to lead on bringing this moral outrage to a swift resolution.  Reach out to the Arab League, re-negotiate the EU arms embargo and see what other sanctions can be put in place and most importantly engage with Russia and China.  If they will not consider backing a military response what are they prepared to do in response to this violation of international law?

Every possible avenue must be explored, we cannot stand idly by any longer, inadvertently condoning the use of chemical weapons.

DO NOT ENTER OPEN WATER

Yesterday a brother and sister of eleven and six years old nearly drowned at the weir near the Five Tunnels.

Thank goodness for the brave & swift action of the passers-by, who rescued both children from the water, had it not been for them I dread to think what would have happened.

The message has to be loud and clear to children and adults alike, do not enter open water. Let's learn from this near miss here in Redditch and from the other tragedies that have taken place around the country.  Despite the warm weather, trying to cool off or have fun in lakes, rivers & ponds means you are literally risking your life and endangering others around you.  This incident must serve as a warning to us all.

I know the spot well from childhood and having visited yesterday I could see evidence that the river bank is well used.  Alarmingly, remnants of ropes hang from the trees which suggest children have used rope swings to enter the water.  I've contacted the head of Community Services for an urgent site visit to see how we can make the area more safe.

The local council cannot hope to make open water a completely safe place, however where a serious near miss has occurred involving two children, action is required.  Whether it is a sign warning of the danger which may at least deter some, to cutting back the trees to eliminate the possibility of rope swings directly over the water, I would like to see the best course of action investigated and meaningful, prompt action.

Given that drowning is the third highest cause of accidental death for children, we must raise awareness that open water is a dangerous place.  Even for strong swimmers, the cold, hidden currents and reeds are just some of the reasons that people are drowning.

In addition I take children being able to swim very seriously.  Redditch Borough Council delivers free swimming to under sixteens & over 65's and I hope children and young people especially will come to Kingsley and the Abbey Stadium to swim safely and for free this summer.

 

The weir near the Five Tunnels

 

Read about the passers-by who saved the children