Labour announces school plans at Ashton sixth form

Angela Rayner spoke at Clarendon Sixth Form on Thursday

Labour is promising free breakfasts for every primary school child, a 30-thousand pounds starting salary for teachers and 21-billion pounds investment in schools if they win the election.

Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner was speaking at Clarendon Sixth Form college in Ashton.

Speaking to the Oldham Chronicle, she said: "It's not just about putting more money into schools, which our schools have faced significant cuts, but it's about the standards in our schools. 

"So - guaranteeing a qualified teacher in every classroom, that the pupil premium will be put back in and given its real terms increase that it needs, making sure that class sizes are capped at 30 so that behaviour is there and they don't become unruly, and just making sure that we target the most disadvantaged in ensuring that there's free breakfasts. 

"We know that kids that have had a decent breakfast will be able to learn more at school. So it's about breaking down some of those barriers and ensuring that we've got excellence in our schools across England."

Ms Rayner says she wants to make sure kids get the same opportunities as she did: "I had the chance to go to university if I wanted it for free. I had the Sure Start centre waiting for me. I had a council house that I could utilise. I had free adult education to go back into. That's my generation. 

"If you go back to the Second World War, this country was virtually bankrupt. We'd gone through war and lots of our industry had broken apart. 

"We were able to rebuild our country and build the welfare state, the NHS, council housing, everything that we take for granted. 

"The infrastructure today was built by that Labour government after the war. 

"People at the time said we couldn't have the National Health Service and that it would collapse. Actually, it's been one of the best things we ever did. Our national education service will be the legacy of the next Labour government."

You can find a list of all the candidates in the Ashton Under Lyne constituency here.

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