Surrey Heath has so many brilliant schools with fantastic teachers, and I regularly visit local schools to stay informed of any issues or concerns, offering all the support I can. I want to do everything possible to ensure that every child in Surrey Heath has the best possible education.
Under changes introduced when I was Education Secretary, more schools have become good and outstanding, and education standards have risen across the board. Since 2010, 89% of schools in England are now rated good or outstanding by Ofsted, up from just 68% 13 years ago, and you can read more about this here.
And in Surrey Heath, 89.7% of schools are now rated good or outstanding by Ofsted, up from just 76.9% in 2010.
Also, following my education reforms, almost all schools in the Surrey Heath are now converter academies.
More investment
The quality of facilities in schools can have a significant impact on a student’s learning, and I’ve been working closely with Conservative colleagues to secure investment in our schools to offer children the best opportunity to succeed. That’s why I welcomed the news that Collingwood College will benefit from the School Rebuilding Programme, backed by £1.8 billion in 2022–34.
I’ve pushed for more investment in Surrey Heath’s schools, making the case for more funding, so I’m delighted that schools in England are set to benefit from record funding as England’s core school budget reaches almost £60 billion in 2024-25 – its highest ever level in real terms – with Surrey Heath set to benefit from a total funding increase of £1,821,428 in 2024-25 compared to 2023-24.
Safer journeys
The safety of our children is paramount, and I’ve been joining forces with local Conservative councillors to help make journeys to and from school safer for children in Surrey Heath. We’ve successfully secured free bus passes for children travelling from Lightwater to Collingwood College, a safe crossing at Ravenscote Junior School, a safe and reliable bus service for children travelling from Chobham to Collingwood College, and I’m working on improving road safely outside many other schools in Surrey Heath.
Improving SEND provision
I often receive casework from the parents of children with Special Education Needs & Disabilities regarding their school placements and further provisions required from the Local Authority, including home to school transport. The issue has become more prominent in the wake of the pandemic, and I’m working with Surrey MPs and Surrey County Council on important improvements to Special Educational Needs provision across the County.
More apprenticeships
Apprenticeships are fantastic ways for students to enter the world of work, helping them to build new skills and gain vital industry knowledge, and it’s brilliant news that 9,110 new apprenticeships have been created in Surrey Heath since 2010. I want to continue driving up the number of people boosting their skills through apprenticeships, and I’m committed to supporting people to realise their career aspirations without having to leave their communities, ensuring local employers have access to the skills they need to grow and thrive.
