Education - Catherine West MP

Watch: my speech on the childcare cost crisis

According to a recent survey by Mumsnet and Pregnant Then Screwed (March 2022), 62% of parents say that the cost of childcare is the same or more than their rent/mortgage. Amidst a cost-of-living crisis, prices for nurseries and preschools continue to soar and this is disproportionally impacting working mothers. In…

Soaring food inflation hits school meals

According to the boss of Bidfood, a catering supplier for schools, soaring food inflation could force schools to choose between using cheaper ingredients or reducing lunchtime food portions. This is absolutely shocking. What’s worse, the Tory Government has failed to provide schools with enough money for school meals – cash…

Energy crisis facing our schools

In January 2022, I received a very troubling email from a local Haringey school headteacher who told me that their energy costs would be increasing by £30,000 (this was a near 45% increase on their current bill) and that the school would receive no additional funding to cover these soaring…

Free School Meals for children with no recourse to public funds

Last week, I attended a briefing about free school meals for children affected by the No Recourse to Public Funds policy. We know that eating well in childhood is the foundation stone of equality of opportunity, and it is essential for both physical and mental growth. Free school meals is…

Creative opportunities for all our young people

Last week, I visted McQueens Theatre in Wood Green to watch three amazing performances called “Dis[Play] in a Day”, organised by Collage Arts. It was fantastic to see passionate young people and to understand the benefit of theatre and drama for school children. Unfortunately this Tory Government doesn’t value the…

Catherine opens Noel Park Primary’s new Forest School

Noel Park Primary School ended a week-long careers week with a visit from Catherine West MP. Ms West, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, addressed pupils from years 2 to 6. During her speech to the pupils, Ms West spoke about the effects of climate change and encouraged the children…

Catherine West MP calls on Education Secretary to reassess plan to scrap the vast majority of BTEC qualifications

Catherine West MP is one of 118 MPs and peers that have written to the recently-appointed Secretary of State for Education Nadhim Zahawi urging him to make an “early reassessment” of the Department for Education’s plan to remove funding for the vast majority of applied general qualifications such as BTECs. The letter was sent to support the…

Watch: Catherine’s 2021 Politics Summer School

My third Politics Summer School for 16-19 years old living or studying in Hornsey & Wood Green took place in July. It was a fantastic week, even with the COVID restrictions meaning it was held virtually for the first time. Below you can watch some of the excellent talks from…

10 by 10: opening opportunities for all our children

We only get one childhood, yet ten years of Tory Governments have seen too many children denied experiences that set them up for learning and for life. Extra-curricular activities are in freefall, especially for kids from the poorest backgrounds, and I’ve seen that first hand as Chair of the All-Party…

Ventilation in schools

With Covid cases rising and changes to schools due to take place from September, it is vital that the government looks at ventilation to keep Haringey’s school children and staff safe. Following my Parliamentary intervention, where I raised the matter with the Health Secretary, I’ve now written this letter to…