Having visited Patchway Community School last week I felt that there were some concerns worth raising about the condition of the school buildings. The teaching staff are dedicated and are doing an excellent job under a number of challenging circumstances presented by the now ageing building. I believed that the Government could best get an understanding of the situation by seeing the school with their own eyes and I am grateful to Nick Gibb MP, Minister for Schools, for coming to visit Patchway with me on Thursday.
As well as raising my own concerns I was able to offer the opportunity to Dave Baker, Chief Executive of the Olympus Academy Trust, and to Karen Cornick, the Head Teacher of the school, to discuss school funding with the Minister themselves, which I think has been useful. Not only this, but Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Schools Councillor Toby Savage was also in attendance, allowing us to have a really helpful discussion between the Council, Government, schools, and the local MP.
I will continue to work with these colleagues and others to press South Gloucestershire’s claim for fairer school funding and to ensure that local voices in Patchway and beyond are heard in Westminster.
