This week, Milbourne Lodge School in Esher won the South East prize and came third nationally in the Make IT Happy awards. It is the 5th year the competition has been running. The theme for 2011 was “Pass it On”. The organisers asked entrants to illustrate how they had used technology to connect with others […]
Read MoreI am a big fan of sport in schools. So, it was a great pleasure to join Rosalita Edwards’ Nursery for their sports day in East Molesey last Friday. It was great fun, with various races (including all against the MP at the end!), a magician, a cake competition and tremendous support from local parents.
Read MoreToday, I visited Walton Oak School, in Walton, which has just had funding approved for a new Breakfast and After School Club and Nurture room, which will provide a range of opportunities for local pupils and parents. I toured the school with the headteacher and governors, and had a look at the site for the […]
Read MoreOn Thursday, we had a debate on educational performance in Parliament. I raised a number of local issues - pressure on school places, the funding formula - with Schools Minister, Nick Gibb. We also had an interesting wider debate about teaching standards and core learning. I argued that ‘ the recipe for success is not […]
Read MoreToday, I joined Esher CofE High pupils on a British Horse Racing, Education and Standards Trust (BHEST) program at Sandown Park, which engages children in practical applications of numeracy skills. Amongst the activities put on, the pupils were weighed on the scales used by jockeys and examined the dimensions of the fences. Later, the pupils […]
Read MoreOn Friday, I opened a new sensory room, at Mencap Elmbridge, for people with learning disabilities. The money for the facility was raised through a mix of fund-raising, including a generous contribution from Glaxo Smith Kline. Jean Rigden and Veronica Collins are part of a fantastic team, doing inspirational work. It was great to see […]
Read MoreThe OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) rankings for 15 year olds were released this week. They measure core learning across 57 countries. The results were widely reported in the press. Between 2000 and 2009, Britain has fallen: In maths: from 8th to 28th. In reading: from 7th to 25th. In science: from 4th […]
Read MoreStudents, parents and teachers in Elmbridge and across Surrey have been celebrating a strong year for GCSE and A-Level results. On Friday, I was invited to attend the annual prize-giving at Notre Dame school in Cobham (below) - and enjoyed being part of their celebrations, after an impressive year of academic, sporting, artistic and musical […]
Read MoreThis week started with the second reading of the Academies Bill, the new government’s first educational reform. The aim is to free local teachers, parents and community groups from state bureaucracy, allowing them to apply for academy status for their local school. With that status comes a range of freedoms - to tailor the curriculum […]
Read MoreI have written the following open letter to Andrew Flanagan, Chief Executive of the NSPCC: Dear Mr Flanagan CLOSURE OF SURREY BRANCH OF THE NSPCC I am writing in relation to the planned closure of the Surrey Branch of the NSPCC in Leatherhead. I have spoken to Julie Cole, NSPCC Regional head of Services in […]
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