Julia Lopez MP has welcomed extra government funding for schools in Hornchurch & Upminster this week, as part of her 2019 election commitment to improve education in the constituency.
State schools and colleges will now be supported on a range of energy efficiency projects from a share of £500 million from the Department for Education. On average, a primary school will receive approximately £16,000 while a secondary school will receive around £42,000. The funding will be available in the coming weeks, helping to accelerate work ahead of the colder months. The government’s Energy Relief will also continue supporting schools and colleges and provide greater certainty over their budgets.
This funding comes on top of an extra £4 billion recently announced for schools over the next two years, helping schools with rising costs and restoring per pupil funding to record levels.
Mrs Lopez has also welcomed the £1.8 billion of capital investment already committed this year by the government for improving the condition of buildings, with the local MP recently supporting bids from five schools across her constituency for the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) to provide better buildings and conditions for students.
The financial announcements follow a series of recent school visits by Mrs Lopez. This has included a meeting at Abbs Cross Academy & Arts College to learn about their recently declined proposal for Sixth Form provision at the school. Mrs Lopez has raised this application with the School’s Minister and shared the Trust’s and community’s request that this decision be reviewed. She also discussed building improvements on a visit to Corbets Tey School in Upminster, which provides specialist support to students with complex learning needs, and met the Headteacher of Redden Court School to congratulate his team on their recent Ofsted Outstanding rating. She welcomes news this week that Upminster’s Coopers Company & Coborn School has been named best London comprehensive by the Sunday Times Schools Guide.
The visits come after Mrs Lopez hosted a delegation of students from a number of local secondary schools at the House of Commons to celebrate UK Parliament Week, and ahead of a special Apprenticeships Fair at Queen’s Theatre that she and her team will be hosting early next year to help students with future skills and training opportunities.
Mrs Lopez said: ‘Schools face real pressures this year because of inflation, especially when it comes to energy prices. I hope this extra government support will help long-term energy efficiencies and give short-term certainty to our fantastic local teaching teams when it comes to school budgets. I am also glad that the Chancellor has confirmed that per-pupil funding levels are being addressed.
When local schools need help on specific issues, my team and I are doing what we can and have recently pressed Education Ministers on particular building improvement applications, and bids for sixth form places.
I have also really enjoyed recent Q&A sessions with students as part of my commitment to helping them better understand our democracy and political system, and congratulate local teachers on some fantastic recent achievements including superb Ofsted ratings and national accolades.’
