The Liberal Democrats are leading the fight for vital investment and reforms in schools to allow every child to reach their potential.

Local Lib Dem, Marie Goldman, wrote on this subject in the Essex Chronicle on 13th December. Here is the full text of her article, which was cut short by the editor of the Chronicle:

"Education is the silver bullet. It has the potential to fix almost everything else. A well-educated population can tackle poverty and inequality, cure diseases, feed itself, protect the planet, and invent new technologies to improve everyone's lives. Education allows us to reach for the stars.

"Why, then, would we want to choose which area of education should receive the most support? If education is so important, shouldn't we be putting more resources into it, rather than picking which bit to pay more attention to, while leaving other areas behind?

"Sadly, this is the genuine choice faced by schools up and down the country. With pupil numbers, staff and resource costs going up while real-terms school funding is being cut, schools have to work out where best to direct the limited resources they have.

"So they have to decide. Should they ensure that all classes have fully qualified teachers in all settings and scrap so-called 'luxuries' like music, art and drama, or should they compromise and reduce the standards because it's cheaper? Should they provide computers to teach children the skills they will need in a competitive market, or should they fix the leaking roof? Should they buy new books, or should they provide quality meals at lunchtime - remembering that for far too many children, a school dinner is the only nutritious meal they will eat.

"This is happening. Schools are asking parents for donations, letting go of teachers and even shortening the school day.

"This is no choice at all. No school, no teacher, no education professional, should ever be forced to make these choices and yet that is what is happening in our country, on our watch. This is wrong. It must stop. We must demand better than this and put education at the heart of the agenda."

The party is calling for an end to Conservative education cuts and would give schools an extra £7 billion a year to lift standards.

Lib Dem Councillor and School Governor Mike Mackrory said: "Our schools are in desperate need of more investment. Children are being taught in run-down buildings by overworked teachers.

"Children only get one chance at their education. There is no better investment than making sure every child gets the opportunity to do their very best. "

Lib Dem Campaigner and School Governor Chris Davidson added, "The Conservatives aren't interested in making sure that they are doing all they can to give Schools and Children's education the investment it needs. Our Conservative MP recently suggested, responding to a question about this issue, that local schools do not have the money they need because teachers' pensions cost too much."

Surely our Children and those who teach them deserve better than this? The Lib Dems want to see real and effective investment in Chelmsford Schools."

The Lib Dem plan to improve education would also scrap Ofsted and replace mandatory SATS at key stage 1 and 2. Our Education spokesperson Layla Moran (herself a former teacher) gave a speech at conference this year where she reiterated her reason for getting into politics - to create an education system which truly gives every child the opportunity to make the most of this scary, challenging but ultimately marvellous world we live in. You can read the text of her speech here.