Thursday 26 March 2015

Stephen Metcalfe MP: welcomes increased funding for Basildon and Thurrock school buildings

Stephen Metcalfe, the local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, has today welcomed the news that schools in his constituency will receiving funding to improve their buildings.

This is part of an extra £367 million that the government has allocated for investment in buildings at over one thousand schools across the country. The condition improvement fund targets schools that need additional money for repairs, or to help them expand.

This money will be used to ensure that schools like Great Berry Primary School, Hassenbrook Academy, Corringham Primary School, and Gable Hall, have the facilities to deliver the best education, so that pupils can fulfil their potential and get on in life.

Investment in the schools is key to our long-term plan for education - our aim is that every child will have a good-quality place in a local school. As part of this, £18 billion has been made available for investment in schools in England over this Parliament - more than double the amount Labour spent in its first two terms combined.

Stephen Metcalfe commented: “Part of my six point plan for South Basildon and East Thurrock, is to put education at the top of my agenda to give young people the best possible start in life and to give them the skills they need to succeed in an ever more challenging world. That also means ensuring our schools are able to offer the best possible facilities to create the best learning environment.”

“It is great news that, thanks to the difficult decisions this Government has taken to deal with our deficit, it has been possible to fund this boost for for our local school community, and address the needs of our children.”

“As part of our long-term economic plan, we are delivering the best schools and skills for young people, with a million more children in schools rated good or outstanding than 2010. This announcement means that pupils in Basildon and Thurrock will feel the direct benefit of our plan, and will get the investment in their education that they deserve.”