Agenda item

This Council is opposed to the government policy of expanding grammar school provision.

Council calls up on the Secretary of State and the city’s MPs to oppose the expansion of selective education and to demand investment in education that will benefit all children. 

It was moved by Councillor Mulherin, seconded by Councillor Dowson that this Council is opposed to the government policy of expanding grammar school provision.

Council calls up on the Secretary of State and the city’s MPs to oppose the expansion of selective education and to demand investment in education that will benefit all children. 

An amendment was moved by Councillor Lamb, seconded by Councillor Cohen;

Delete all after “This Council” and replace with:

“believes that every child should have the opportunity to attend a good local school and that a one size fits all model of education does not work for anyone.

A mixed economy of schools can provide a diverse range of educational options that suit the diverse needs of all pupils.  This council welcomes the recent Government announcement that it will not pursue a programme of forced academisation and awaits with interest the finer details of its Grammar School proposals.  

This council notes that Grammar schools are proven to be engines of social mobility and are particularly beneficial in areas of high deprivation.  Where there is need for good places and demand from parents, this council will welcome and support proposals that would see new Grammar schools open in Leeds.

This council commits to working with all education providers in Leeds, regardless of their governance model and further commits to stop putting ideology ahead of what is in the best interests of our children & young people.”

The amendment in the name of Councillor Lamb was declared lost and upon being put to the vote it was

RESOLVED – That this Council is opposed to the government policy of expanding grammar school provision.

Council calls up on the Secretary of State and the city’s MPs to oppose the expansion of selective education and to demand investment in education that will benefit all children. 

On the requisition of Councillors Ogilvie and C Dobson the voting on the amendment in the name of Councillor Lamb was recorded as follows; 

YES – 19

B Anderson, C Anderson, Buckley, Andrew Carter, Amanda Carter, Cohen, Collins, Flynn, Harrand, Lamb, G Latty, P Latty, J Procter, R Procter, Robinson, Stephenson, Wadsworth, Wilkinson and Wood

NO – 73

Akhtar, Arif, S Bentley, A Blackburn, D Blackburn, Blake, Bruce, Campbell, Chapman, Charlwood, Cleasby, Congreve, Coulson, Coupar, Davey , Dawson, C Dobson, M Dobson, Downes, Dowson, Dunn, Elliott, Field, Finnigan, Gabriel, Garthwaite, Gettings, Golton, P Grahame, R Grahame, C Gruen,  P Gruen, Groves, Hamilton, Harland, Hayden, Heselwood, A Hussain, G Hussain, Hyde, Illingworth, Iqbal, Jarosz, Lay,Leadley,J Lewis, R Lewis, Lowe, Lyons, Macniven, Maqsood, J McKenna, S McKenna, Mulherin, Nagle, Nash, Ogilvie, Pryor, Rafique, Ragan, Renshaw, Ritchie, Selby, Smart, Sobel, E Taylor, Towler, Truswell, Tunnicliffe, Walker, Walshaw, Wakefield , and Yeadon. 

ABSTAIN – 1

Wilford.

On the requisition of Councillors Ogilvie and C Dobson the voting on the motion in the name of Councillor Mulherin was *recorded as follows; 

*Due to a technical failure individual names were not available in respect of this vote, the numbers were recorded as follows;

YES – 75

NO – 19

ABSTAIN - 0