George Foulkes

George battles against Telford College Cuts
Sat 11th Jul 2009

Recently, George joined students, staff and fellow MSPs to fight compulsory redundancies forced by Telford College budget cuts. While most threatened teaching posts are in business, IT and tourism – all areas, of course, play key roles in Edinburgh’s economy - other staff spoke of fears of future job losses. Protesting staff and students were pleased to see George and his colleagues, and they later met with MSPs, including Claire Baker MSP, Labour's Further and Higher education spokesperson at length. It was agreed that cutting teaching staff in such important areas did not make sense and was a short knee-jerk...

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Congratulations to Boroughmuir High School pupils in their Pursuit of Success
Thu 28th May 2009

George has commended the work of Boroughmuir High School pupils who have shown their initiative, skill and innovation by creating a successful and ethical educational enterprise called Pursuit UK.  Pursuit UK allows pupils to trade exam revision material and tips at below high street value, helping to make learning more affordable, exactly what is needed at a difficult economic time, in which many Scottish students are struggling to afford a university education. The site is free at the point of use, and makes money through reasonably priced advertising on their website, which has received almost 20000 hits in just few...

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Scottish Government Breaks Key Manifesto Promise on Education
Sat 11th Apr 2009

Holyrood's opposition MSP's highlighted again the Scottish Governments failings to keep key manifesto promises as teacher numbers nose-dive in spite of their 2007 pledge to “maintain teacher numbers in the face of falling school rolls to cut class sizes”. As we approach the second anniversary of a minority government, the report card on education is, in the words of opposition leader Iain Gray, “a disaster”.  There are 1000 fewer teachers in Scotland now than when the current Scottish Government took office, undermining improvements made and reversing the trend set by Labour, who increased teacher numbers by 2000 in four years. In spite Alex...

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Parents await budget decision as future of Edinburgh schools at stake
Thu 12th Feb 2009

Teachers, pupils, parents and the Parent Council Network wait nervously ahead of today's council budget meeting.  After months of campaigning against a further 2% cut to school budgets, in addition to the 1.5% cut last year, parents, pupils and staff across the city are hoping that the council have listened to their concerns and will drop their proposed 2% cut. The negative impact the 1.5 % cut imposed on schools in the current year means schools are struggling to maintain even basic educational standards. With a further 2% cut under consideration, it is extremely worrying to think more money be...

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Foulkes FOI reveals plight of Edinburgh Teachers
Thu 15th Jan 2009

Lothians MSP George Foulkes today published the findings of a FOI exposing the chaos at the heart of the Scottish Governments education policy. Figures released by Edinburgh City Council to the MSP demonstrates a 36% increase in the number of teachers applying for supply work. 852 people are currently registered for work in Edinburgh, however that work is extremely scarce due to the cuts imposed by the council which have reduced all primary school budgets by £10,000 and secondary school budgets by £50,000. The Council are also currently proposing a further 2% school budget cut for 2009/10. One probationary teacher, wished...

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