Stephen
Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, has welcomed the news
that Essex County Council (ECC) has granted Lee Chapel Primary School the
opportunity to expand their premises.
Mr
Metcalfe and Essex County Councillor John Schofield have been lobbying ECC for
some time to allow the expansion to take place and are said to be delighted
with the decision. The new facilities will allow Lee Chapel to increase their
capacity with an additional form of entry.
In
their last Ofsted report, Lee Chapel Primary School achieved Outstanding status
with Ofsted praising both the standard of teaching and the excellent progress
made by pupils throughout their time at the school.
Mr
Metcalfe, who is known for his staunch commitment to promoting education
throughout South Basildon and East Thurrock, commented: “This really is
fantastic news for both the school and for children in the local area. Lee
Chapel sets extremely high standards and this is exactly what we need from our
schools.”
“The
expansion will enable even more children to benefit from the outstanding
education Lee Chapel provides and I very much look forward to seeing the
finished result. In the meantime, I will of course be doing all I can to
support the staff and students as the expansion process unfolds.”
John Schofield, County Councillor for Basildon Westley Heights who
works hard to support improvements for his area said: "After having
personally campaigned for over seven years on this issue I am thrilled that
Essex County Council has agreed to release The Knares offices, the previous
infant school premises, to enable the current primary school to expand. It is
an outstanding school recently having obtained government teaching
accreditation. This will be a stimulus for educational improvement across the
whole of Basildon".
