MP Josh Dean highlights Bishop’s Stortford’s education issues in House of Commons

Bishop’s Stortford’s position as the largest town in the country without a further education college was highlighted in the House of Commons by MP Josh Dean.

He secured a Westminster Hall debate about tackling barriers to educational opportunities in semi-rural areas.

Mr Dean told parliamentary colleagues on Wednesday (May 7) that since he was elected in July last year, he has visited half of the 50 schools in his Hertford and Stortford constituency.

He said: “There is no end to the ambition of our teachers to deliver a thriving education for our children, but I hear regularly from school leaders about the challenges they face in recruiting and retaining staff.

“In semi-rural communities such as Hertford and Stortford, the high cost of living makes it difficult for primary schools to attract early-career teachers. This challenge is reflected across the education sector in our community.

“Spiralling house prices and a lack of single-person properties or starter homes for young families offer little incentive for early-career teachers to settle in our community and teach in our schools, which presents an acute challenge for communities like ours.”

The Labour MP called for more access to further education colleges, apprenticeships, work experience and industry placements, but said the cost and frequency of public transport “presents an ongoing barrier” to such opportunities.

“I often talk about public transport in terms of not just getting people to places but connecting people with opportunity. That is absolutely how it should function,” he said.

“Issues around connectivity diminish the number of opportunities for our young people, making it harder for them to get to school and access work experience opportunities or apprenticeships.

“For many students, the extra activities outside the school day, such as clubs, trips or sports matches, are out of reach because they cannot get the buses they need to make it home safely.

“As we all know, those are the activities we remember most from school. They gave us the chance to develop our interests, explore culture, meet other students and expand our horizons.

“These opportunities should not be available only to those whose families can afford to drive them or pay for taxis.”

Mr Dean highlighted the emotional toll of such disadvantages and the extra price paid by children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).

“Isolation is a key driver of poor mental health,” he said, citing a 2021 YoungMinds survey in which a “staggering” 95% of children and young people from semi-rural areas cited feelings of loneliness and isolation.

“Children with special needs or disabilities may attend schools many miles away from where they live and be separated from their peers, and their parents may struggle to access the natural support network that comes with schools.”

Mr Dean told fellow MPs that his views were informed by his own experiences, dropping out of the sixth form at 17 to get a job before winning a university place.

“I know from my own experience that a traditional path through education is not always the right one, but a lack of post-16 provision in semi-rural communities can also hold young people back.

“I am proud that my community is home to Hertford Regional College’s Ware campus, which I have had the pleasure of visiting a number of times since I was elected.

“However, it is the only further education college in my constituency, and I understand that Bishop’s Stortford is the largest town in the country without a further education college.”

His constituency neighbour, Chris Vince, whose Harlow seat includes the Hallingburys, Hatfield Broad Oak, Hatfield Heath, Sheering, Lower Sheering and Matching, also took part in the debate.

He described the “hair-raising” walking route to two Sheering schools and told MPs: “No family should be disadvantaged because of where they live.

“Education should not be a postcode lottery. Let us work together to ensure that every child, whether they live in central Harlow or the smallest village, can reach their potential.”