- The values of our Armed Forces – those of resilience, perseverance, and teamwork – are the same that the former Conservative Government worked to instil in all our young people.
- Whilst in government, the Conservatives launched the Cadet Expansion Programme in schools to support pupils in building lifelong skills. But this is now at risk under Labour, who are cutting funding for cadet schemes in schools, including Chatham Grammar and Brompton Academy, in Medway.
- Councillor Joy has called on the Labour Government to reconsider this decision and fulfil its promise to ‘break down barriers to opportunity’ for young people, instead of putting them up.
The Labour Government has confirmed it is cutting funding for cadet schemes in schools, including in Medway, taking away the opportunities our young people deserve.
In 2012, the then Conservative Government launched the Cadet Expansion Programme to give pupils the opportunity to build important skills such as resilience, self-discipline, teamwork and leadership skills.
The Conservatives rolled out over 500 cadet units in schools and allocated School Staff Instructor (SSI) grants to 226 schools and academies last year to help facilitate instructors in spending more time on cadet duties.
However, this Labour Government has chosen to cut the additional School Staff Instructor (SSI) funding grant, meaning that schools will no longer be able to employ SSIs.
Cutting this programme will only save the Treasury £862,144, whilst depriving many children of learning the skills they need for a brighter future. This cruel cut comes after Labour’s decision to impose an Education Tax that will impact the education of every child in the independent and state sector, making clear that this government does not have the interests of school children at heart.
Labour promised to ‘break down barriers to opportunity’ for young people but are doing the exact opposite by removing the opportunity for young people to learn lifelong skills.
Commenting, Shadow Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Education, Councillor Mark Joy said:
“I know the critical role that cadet units in schools in Medway by teaching our young people the skills they need to navigate day-to-day life as a student and to set them up for the future.
“The Labour Government’s decision to cut the additional funding for School Staff Instructors will lead to a decline in cadet numbers across the country, showing you that Labour are not serious about setting our young people up for success.
“Labour promised to break down barriers to opportunity for young people but instead, are creating new ones. The Conservatives will hold them to account.”
Commenting, Shadow Education Minister Neil O’Brien MP said:
“This is a really depressing piece of news on Remembrance Day when cadets will be out on parade across the whole country. This funding for cadet units in state schools is pretty small in the grand scheme of public spending but it is really welcomed by those who volunteer with cadets and by teachers.
“The Government are claiming that they didn't have any alternative but that's nonsense. They are able to find money for far less worthwhile projects than this. The truth is that they just have different priorities and can find money for all kinds of loony left wing projects, but choose not to find it for the cadets.
“This is despite the fact that we know being in the cadets has such a positive impact on young people."
