(1) NOTICE OF MOTION
The first and main agenda item was a motion presented by Councillor John Clare, supporting the Greenfield students in their campaign to make English GCSE coursework equitable. The wording of the motion was as follows:
“Great Aycliffe Town Council applauds the students of Greenfield Community College, Newton Aycliffe, who have challenged the inequity of an exam system whereby English state schools entering students for the English GCSE exam do not have a 40% coursework option … although that option continues to be available to independent schools through IGCSE. Such a disparity of opportunity is unacceptable.
Great Aycliffe Town Council therefore requests the Secretary of State for Education to consider the Greenfield students’ petition*, which seeks parity of treatment and calls upon Parliament to allow state schools the option of 40% coursework in English GCSE exams.”
(*the students’ petition is published online at http://bit.ly/CWK40)
Councillor Clare (a former teacher at Greenfield) pointed out how proud we should be of the ethical calibre of the students mounting this campaign; and also of the need of our democratic institutions to respond when young people (who are so often apathetic to politics) turn to them.
Other Councillors spoke in support of the motion, which was passed unanimously.
There were three announcements of note:
There was an appeal for people to help with the Poppy Appeal collections this year (contact the Town Clerk on 01325 300700 if you are interested).
The Town Clerk is submitting an objection to a planning application for Armstrong Close (DM/17/00080/FPA); a number of people spoke about the application, which led me to remind the Council that I am on the Planning Committee and had listened, but had not formed an opinion).
Mayor Jed Hillary took the opportunity to remind people of his civic dinner – £30, 7pm Saturday 25 February, Hallgarth Hotel: http://bit.ly/GAMCD17
The Council agreed to light a beacon on 11th November 2018 in support of the tribute proposed to commemorate the ending to World War One.

2017/18 PRECEPT
Having discussed this matter last week at the P&R Committee, the Council formally adopted the 2017/18 Precept, which will raise the Council Tax by 1.99% (about 6p a week).