Meeting the new student leadership team at Hassenbrook Academy

I was recently delighted to visit Hassenbrook Academy to meet the new Head Girl, Boy and their deputies, who were all optimistic about what they can achieve at, and for, the school.

It was also very encouraging to see that Hassenbrook continues to make progress under the leadership of Executive Head Dr Asong and her teaching staff.

As MP I always enjoy the chance to catch up with local schools and see first-hand the hard work all our teachers do to drive up standards and give pupils a great start in life. Education is one of the most important gifts we can give to local young people and it can make all the difference.

The Smashed Project visits Woodlands School

I was pleased to be invited to Woodlands School to watch a presentation by the Smashed Project, an international theatre-in-education programme dedicated to breaking the culture of underage drinking.

The Smashed Project is proven to raise pupils' awareness of the dangers of alcohol and designed to help them make informed decisions about consuming it in the future.

I was especially pleased to see how well all the pupils responded to this important message.

You can find out more about the Smashed Project here.

Visiting St Teresa's Catholic Primary School

I was glad to visit our local St Teresa's Catholic Primary School, which was recently given a Good rating by Ofsted after previously being placed in special measures.

It is testament to the hard work of all the staff at the school that this turn around has happened.

On the day I visited, the school was coming to the end of its "History Week" and both pupils and teachers had dressed up in an attempt to bring history to life.

It was fantastic to see how well the school is doing and I look forward to visiting again in future.

Signing the Book of Commitment for Holocaust Memorial Day

This week I signed the Holocaust Educational Trust's Book of Commitment, pledging my commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day and honouring those who were murdered during the Holocaust.

It was also an opportunity to recognise the extraordinary Holocaust survivors who work tirelessly to educate young people.

As the Holocaust moves from living history, to just history, it is crucial that we take the time to remember the victims and also pay tribute to the survivors.

You can learn more about the Holocaust Educational Trust here or follow them on Twitter: @HolocaustUK.

Awards night at Woodlands School

Photo from Woodlands School

I was honoured to be invited to speak at Woodlands School and give out awards to some of its highest achieving Key Stage 4 pupils.

I visited just a few months ago, back in September, to see how the school was progressing following a record-breaking year of GCSE results and at the awards night I was pleased to see signs of that progression continuing.

It was very encouraging to meet both teachers and pupils and I look forward to hearing more from the school in future.

New figures show boost in good and outstanding schools in Essex

I welcome the recent news that more local children are being taught in good or outstanding schools.

New figures from Ofsted show that 60 more schools in Essex have been judged good or outstanding in their most recent inspection compared to 2015.

In the whole of the East of England, 210 more schools have been rated as good or outstanding.

Across the country the proportion of all schools judged to be good or outstanding at their most recent inspection was 89 per cent - the highest proportion ever recorded - with both the proportion of primary and secondary schools judged at these ratings continuing to rise in every region of the country. As a result almost 1.8 million more children are now in good schools compared to 2010.

Theresa May's Government wants to build a country that works for everyone - and that means providing a good school place for every child, one that caters to their individual talents, abilities, and needs.

That's why it is great news that the latest figures show that 471 schools in Essex are now rated good or outstanding.

Conservatives are making sure every child can access high quality education, so they have the opportunity to go as far as their talents will take them, regardless of their background.

Locally, boosting education is one of the single most important things we can do to give young people the start in life they deserve.

Visiting Lee Chapel Primary School

I was pleased to visit high-flying Lee Chapel Primary School after the recent news that it is one of the top one hundred primary schools in the country.

The league tables published by the Sunday Times ranked Lee Chapel Primary School at 73rd out of nearly 17,000 state-funded primary schools across the country and the highest in Essex. The Basildon school has also been ranked as "outstanding" by Ofsted since 2007.

It was good to see first-hand all of the hard work going into improving the school and maintaining a high level of education for pupils.

I heard about the way that new classrooms are providing better spaces for teaching, and how the development of a new swimming pool will give children the opportunity to learn to swim and take part in sport, which does so much for their health and wellbeing at their early age.

I especially wanted to congratulate Head Teacher Sue Jackson and all at the school on the fantastic achievement of being ranked as one of the best schools in the country. It is a really proud moment and I am sure that everyone will want to build on this success in the future.

Stephen Metcalfe MP welcomes Budget for the next generation

Stephen Metcalfe, Member of Parliament for South Basildon & East Thurrock, welcomed the Conservative government's recent Budget.

The Budget includes measures to help younger generations, by introducing a new Lifetime ISA for under-40s, improving schools with fairer funding, and putting a new sugar levy on the soft drinks industry to help tackle childhood obesity.

Mr Metcalfe said: "I was pleased to see that younger generations will benefit most from this Budget.

"It is important to encourage a saving culture among young people and the Lifetime ISA will help towards that all-important first home and saving for retirement.

"The introduction of a fair National Funding Formula for schools will help ensure that 90 per cent of schools benefit from much-needed funds by 2020, including our local schools which I am always keen to see supported.

"This commitment to fairer funding for schools is also a commitment to improving life chances for local children, making sure that they can compete in an ever more competitive world."

He added: "The sugar tax is a bold and important move towards tackling childhood obesity.

"It was good to hear that this new levy on the soft drinks industry will help reduce the sugar content of their products and that the money raised from it will be used to double sports funding in primary schools, encouraging healthier lifestyle habits from an early age."

He finished: "Taken as a whole, the Budget demonstrates that Conservatives are putting the next generation first and ensuring that Britain is fit for the future."