Harlow Labour demands answers from MP Robert Halfon over SFG College closure
Education / Mon 21st Aug 2023 at 04:50pm
THE Labour parliamentary candidate for Harlow has issued a statement over the closure of Sr Frederick College due to safety concerns.
Chris Vince said: “My immediate thoughts are with students, families and staff of SFG who are affected by this shocking news. Starting school in September can be an extremely nerve wracking experience without the further uncertainty and anxiety caused by this chaotic situation.
Other schools across Harlow are also likely to be impacted as emergency teaching space is sought for displaced students. The disruption due to this appalling catalogue of errors by the DfE is immense.
“Education Minister Robert Halfon must urgently explain how the mistakes were made, who will be held responsible and what the consequences are for students and staff as they prepare to return from the summer break.
In his response so far he seems to have forgotten that he is a Minister of State in the Dept of Education, the very Dept responsible for this shambolic mess. His ‘full support’ will be of little comfort to those whose lives and learning will be severely disrupted in the coming weeks. His acceptance of ‘remote learning’ as an option, albeit temporary, is hypocrisy of the highest order. He vociferously railed against teachers and schools for closing during the pandemic, now he sees it as an acceptable solution to cover disastrous failures in his own Government Department.
He also says the Government is taking full responsibility and will fund the rebuild and other costs. That’s yet more taxpayers money being wasted, they’ve already paid for the building once, now they have to pay again to cover the cost of failure by his Dept. Who is responsible and at what cost, both financially and to the education of Harlow students, are questions that must be answered as soon as possible.
“For now the priority must be in supporting students and staff to find a resolution to this mess and a return to learning as soon as possible.
“If you wish to contact me regarding this or any other issue please email me at [email protected]”
Dan Swords
2023-08-21 17:01:23
This shows the difference between Chris Vince and Robert Halfon. Chris Vince is seeking to make political hay from an awful situation. Robert Halfon has been on calls all weekend with the school, government and parents. Robert has said he is doing everything possible to support the school and minimise disruption. Labour should stop playing politics and support the affected families like Robert is doing.
DP
2023-08-21 17:24:17
Dan swords, if the boot were on the other foot you would be making as much of it as possible, how many times have you and other conservative councillors attacked labour? You and Robert are all about playing politics when it suits but don’t seem to like it when you are the targets, you cannot have it both ways.
Cllr Jodi Dunne.
2023-08-21 17:26:37
Oh wow let's look at our MP's voting record on education shall we. Consistently voted for ending financial support for some 16-19 year olds in training and further education. Voted for raising England’s undergraduate tuition fee cap to £9,000 per year. As Whitney Houston said, "the children are our future" so how did he vote on that? Generally voted against measures to prevent climate change. On and on it goes. Time for a general election. Source: https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/24784/robert_halfon/harlow/votes
Emily
2023-08-21 17:33:23
Dan Swords - people have trusted that their children would be safe. People have gone to work every day trusting that they will be safe. Accountability is the least they deserve and that Robert Halfon, as the MP and in his role in the Department for Education should expect. This never should have happened. And that’s without taking into account the waste of our money - money that could be spent on improving education rather than rectifying Department for Education botch jobs. Chris Vince has also given his contact details should families wish to reach him. Once again: people have trusted that they were sending their children to a safe place and they were going to work in a safe place. They deserve answers.
Alan John Jones
2023-08-21 17:34:47
For this to happen existing building reg's, what few existing, have not been carried out. As to people playing politics. Well Mr Halfon and Co were happy to take the credit, when the SFG, was opened. The Government is taking full responsibility, for this closure, what dose that mean by way of action or heads rolling. Or will it follow the same, worn out path of , lesson to be learnt, it will not happen again. My waste bin is full of these. Also I have run out of, Political sick bags. Just used the last one, on reading Dan Swords. Alan
Alan John Jones
2023-08-21 17:38:37
For this to happen existing building reg's, what few existing, have not been carried out. As to people playing politics. Well Mr Halfon and Co were happy to take the credit, when the SFG, was opened. The Government is taking full responsibility, for this closure, what dose that mean by way of action or heads rolling. Or will it follow the same, worn out path of , lesson to be learnt, it will not happen again. My waste bin is full of these. Also I have run out of, Political sick bags. Just used the last one, on reading Dan Swords. Alan
Cllr James Griggs
2023-08-21 17:41:35
Oh dear Dan, the master has called you to his defence has he? Nowhere in Mr Halfons response does he acknowledge the problem lies in his own Department. Did you actually read the piece from Chris Vince? He is showing he understands the issues that staff, students and their families will be facing, this comes from his experience of many years as a teacher. You fail to note he acknowledges that the immediate priority is to support staff and students. If you have any doubt about his commitment to education and to Harlow you are deluding yourself, Chris is asking the questions being asked by students, parents and staff across the town right now. As for playing politics, no-one in Harlow Labour will take lessons from you or Mr Halfon on this subject, you’re the king and consort of the photo opportunity. He also included his email address in order that concerned people are able to contact him. I quite understand your discomfort at your boss being asked awkward questions but that’s the job of an opposition party as you and he will surely find out for yourselves very soon!
Lanie Shears
2023-08-21 18:17:43
Dan, Chris Vince clearly gives his contact details for people to contact him about this matter in the article. He also points out that for now, what is important are the students and staff. We taxpayers have paid once for the building, it seems we will be paying again to put it right. Sad state of affairs really, many parents will be very concerned, Who will pay for the childcare some will need if their children can't go into school? Anxious times for many people and on top of the cost of living crisis and high mortgages. Let's all hope that the situation will be resolved quickly so that students' parents and staff can get back to normality.
Murray Sackwild
2023-08-22 01:04:48
Our concern is for students and staff at the school. This is an unacceptable mess, so close to the start of term.
Pedro
2023-08-22 06:07:27
Same old story Labour and the Tories bickering and trying to score political gain, grow up, deal with the problem and act like adults.
SFG
2023-08-22 06:22:21
These are the same children that had remote learning during the pandemic and now this. So sad a ruined education that will have consequences for the rest of thier lives. I do blame the Conservative party completely and you just now the town centre development will be cheap and nasty workmanship that will need to be demolished before the HDC borrowed millions will even be paid back. I hope Dan and his colleagues have a complete wipeout in the next elections in May
DEK HAN
2023-08-22 07:07:52
Dan Blah Blah Blah Swords ROBERT Blah Blah Blah Haflon you can criticise others but it seems others cannot criticise you have you seen what a mess this country’s in thanks to your corrupt Tory Party if not open your bloody eyes!!
Guy Flegmen
2023-08-22 08:40:54
Maybe if all our politicians focused on the job in hand and not on political point scoring,then this situation may never have happened. I might also add that always going for the cheapest bidder on jobs rarely becomes value for money. “Pay cheap, pay twice”
Kim Oconnor
2023-08-22 09:07:30
What a waste of money... you build cheap , you get cheap,, more on the horizon me thinks.... . My father was one of many that helped build this town, to sir Frederick Gibberd s plans,,, which I may add ,has gone completely out the window, with this lot in charge and by labour's plans all so..... my father used to say ,you carnt teach the brick trade in few weeks, which is happening now.....he and many spent a life time learning the trade..... theses councils and developers using cheap labour,,,cheap materials,,, to gain profit.... watch this space for more to come..
Steve
2023-08-22 11:59:04
How did the building get signed off as safe by the building inspector?
Nicholas Taylor
2023-08-22 13:00:00
Sorting out the immediate issue really does not need any intervention from our MP or indeed local politicians. There will be dozens of staff and officers at the school and at others working day and night to make arrangements for children to be educated in person from September. At a higher level our MP should be at the heart of an investigation as to how this company got the contract in view of what has now come to light and what happened in respect of building control checks. As for the DFI paying for repairs or a re-build, well of course it is us tax payers who are footing the bill. Will any heads roll, I doubt it.
J
2023-08-22 18:39:31
We don't actually know what is wrong with the school at the moment right, other than not safe, am I right? None of the politicians/councillors here built the building so bickering who did what and signed off seems pointless. Most importantly no one has been hurt, the problem has been found and let's hope it can be rectified and all students and staff can get back to work safely as soon as possible. Just saying!
Davey D
2023-08-22 19:32:45
I'm a parent. Don't know when my son will be back at school, haven't got a clue how I'm going to arrange child care, or when for. Don't know whether he will be subject to distance learning, if he is, it certainly won't work, not that I want to leave him at home alone. No idea where the temporary site will be, not sure how he is meant to get there. If it's at Burnt Mill, that's going to be around a 45 min walk for him, which isn't fair, can't get him there otherwise as we are both already at work. I don't know what to do.
Steve
2023-08-22 20:15:25
What are the chances of all sides working together? Telling the truth about what happened, how long have they known about the safety problems with the school? Tell us who gave the contract to the company in the first place? Who signed off on the contractor's work?
David Taylor
2023-08-22 20:46:57
Dear dear me looks like the end of this Conservative Party. About as good as a chocolate tea cup
Neil Coster
2023-08-22 22:32:56
Dan Swords, this demonstrates how woefully out of touch you are. I’m the current serving head at a school in Chris’s constituency where he has held surgeries previously. Once this news broke he made contact with me to ask about the use of the school so that he could have a central venue to organise a meeting to see how he could best support them. That meeting Dan is this Friday, 5pm, at Pemberley Academy. I’ll be there with Chris and his constituents (concerned parents of the schools in our local area). I’m sure he’ll accept the apology you’ll give him for your earlier comment (accusing him of doing nothing - yet literally having no idea what he had panned) with grace on Friday as I presume the leader of the council would also like to attend. Once again - 5pm - Pemberley Academy. I’ll reserve you a parking spot.
Neil Coster
2023-08-22 22:35:05
Dan Swords, this demonstrates how woefully out of touch you are. I’m the current serving head at a school in Chris’s constituency where he has held surgeries previously. Once this news broke he made contact with me to ask about the use of the school so that he could have a central venue to organise a meeting to see how he could best support them. That meeting Dan is this Friday, 5pm, at Pemberley Academy. I’ll be there with Chris and his constituents (concerned parents of the schools in our local area). I’m sure he’ll accept the apology you’ll give him for your earlier comment (accusing him of doing nothing - yet literally having no idea what he had planned) with grace on Friday as I presume the leader of the council would also like to attend. Once again - 5pm - Pemberley Academy. I’ll reserve you a parking spot.
Keeley watts
2023-08-23 05:19:32
This isn’t the time for political point scoring. As a parent with a child at this school, Mrs Conlon and her team need support to help get the students back in a classroom as quickly as possible, limiting the interruption to our children’s education. The fault lies squarely with the company entrusted to build the school and the building inspector, who has managed to sign the building off.
23 Comments for Harlow Labour demands answers from MP Robert Halfon over SFG College closure: