Jo Churchill talks about Education Funding

Education is fundamental to ensuring we all have the knowledge, skills and critical thinking abilities necessary to navigate the challenges of daily life. Since my election to Parliament in 2015, I have advocated for our schools and colleges to receive increased investment, whether for fairer funding for schools, SEND provision, or T Levels and apprenticeships. Everyone deserves to get the best start in life or the best opportunity to improve later on. I am pleased that progress on school funding has been made and will be at its highest ever level in real terms per pupil by 2024-25. This is work in progress, however, compared to our near neighbours, such as Norfolk, we still have more to do.

Locally, we are fortunate to have a number of great schools and colleges with dedicated teaching staff who educate and inspire students, tailoring support to their needs. Over the years and on a regular basis, I have met with hundreds of students and teaching staff, whether it be during my regular college visits or Q&A sessions with students. I have seen the positive impact that an inclusive and supportive learning environment has on attainment results, and students’ personal development and happiness. In this post covid world, this is particularly important.

I remember with enjoyment, a session at the new Abbeygate sixth form in late summer, where students told me all about the opportunities afforded to them under the government’s Turing Scheme. Many young people who had previously not had the chance to travel, got to experience exciting challenges from swimming in the River Kwai, to supporting young people in Africa and understanding that the world is not equal, but that every child no matter where they are born is benefited from education.

Another positive experience was seeing the special SEND provision at St Edmunds Primary School open and being privileged to speak at the opening Stowupland High sixth form building. Over the years, I have met primary school children who have shown me something excitedly and later on I have watched them develop and grow, whether to running the library in their school or challenging me with question at the sixth form Q&A. I share in the well-known proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child’, for it is right that students are supported at every level so that we can foster an interest in education and continue to inspire lives.

I was delighted to see significant investment directed to Priory School in Bury St Edmunds and Thurston Community College, which have both been accepted onto the School Rebuilding Programme. This programme will prioritise major refurbishment of school buildings, helping to fund the modernisation of equipment and specialist resources for students. Having spoken to headteachers, I know that this investment will help to create inclusive and supportive learning environments that are responsive to the needs of all students, including those with specialist needs.

Whilst I am pleased with the progress we have made going into this new year, there is more to be done and I am continuing work with stakeholders to secure a boost to Suffolk schools’ budgets as we seek parity in pupil level funding with neighbouring counties.