On Monday I met with the Minister for Schools, Nick Gibb MP to discuss with him the schools funding situation in South Gloucestershire in general and with specific issues on school buildings, some of which are now outdated and in need of maintenance, repair, and, in some cases, replacement. This was a successful meeting where the Minister informed us that school funding per pupil will be 6% higher next year than it was in the 2017/18 academic year.
I was able to raise my concerns again about the condition of Patchway Community School, having visited it myself last week and met with Headteacher Karen Cornick and also the Olympus Academy Trust Chief Executive Dave Baker. I strongly felt that the Minister should come and see the school for himself and he has accepted my invitation, giving a commitment that he will come and visit Patchway in the near future.
I look forward to welcoming the Minister to South Gloucestershire and to continuing our ongoing conversation about the best way to secure fairer school funding for our area.
