Last week, the new Education Secretary, Damian Hinds, unveiled a package of measures to drive up standards and increase opportunities in the schools and areas most in need, giving more children the best possible start in life.
The Education Secretary unveiled plans to support underperforming schools and increase opportunities, helping more children fulfil their potential.
More than £45 million will be invested in successful multi-academy trusts, enabling them to build their capacity so they can help drive further improvements and raise standards. Multi-academy trusts have worked well improving standards, sharing learning and best practice across schools in their areas. £25 million will be shared between 75 school-led projects across the country, with many of these aimed at boosting fundamental literacy and numeracy skills.
The Government’s education reforms are raising school standards, and these announcements will build on the progress that has already been made. 1.9 million more children are attending good and outstanding schools, and the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers has shrunk by 7 per cent at GCSE and 10.5 per cent at Key Stage 2 since 2011.
Here in the Forest, we are seeing significant investment in a new campus of Gloucestershire College in Cinderford. The new campus will continue to focus on the needs of the local community, and will be working with schools, young people, parents, businesses and local stakeholders to help ensure they are ready to welcome students into the new campus in September this year.
This matters because we want to make sure that everyone has the same opportunity to achieve their ambitions, regardless of where they are growing up or their background. By supporting good and outstanding schools, and colleges, to help others improve, and focusing on disadvantaged areas where our young people need extra help, we can continue to make a difference to people’s everyday lives and build a Britain that’s fit for the future.