Education minister Nick Gibb praised local schools on Thursday (22 September) after speaking at a roundtable meeting with local headteachers, organised by Havant MP Alan Mak.
During the discussions, the headteachers had the chance to describe the teaching they do locally while also giving feedback to the Minister on the latest developments in their schools and education more widely. The talks were held at special meeting of the Havant Educational Leaders’ Forum, which was founded by Mr Mak to allow secondary school and college senior management the opportunity to share best practice and keep in touch with the MP. The Forum is the first of its kind in the area to be organised by a local MP.
The minister in charge of schools also toured Havant Academy, with Mr Gibb saying he was impressed by the level of improvements that had been made in recent years. Havant Academy is England’s most improved state secondary school over the last five years, and has seen substantial improvements since it joined the Government’s academies programme. Minister Gibb and Alan Mak MP met the Academy’s student leadership team and a range of other students to hear their views about the school’s success.
Mr Mak said it was a great opportunity for the government to hear about the work that takes place locally, describing it as a “coup” to get a Schools Minister to Havant.
He said: “Backing local schools and young people is one of my top priorities as local MP. Getting Education Minister Nick Gibb to Havant so he could see first the hard work of local teachers and schools is great for the constituency. In particular Havant Academy, the most improved secondary school in the country, can provide a blueprint for how schools can be transformed by great leadership and hard work from staff and pupils”.
“In Westminster I will continue to campaign for more funding for local schools, and I welcomed the government’s consultation on fairer school funding. I am sure the minister will have taken on-board the feedback he was given by the headteachers.”
School Standards Minister Nick Gibb said: “It was great to hear first-hand how school leaders are working together through the Havant Education Leaders Forum to raise standards in schools across the area.
“We want every child to have access to an excellent education and that means ensuring all schools have the resources they need to do this.
“That’s why we are committed to introducing fairer schools funding, so every pupil, no matter where they live in the country is funded according to need. We are continuing to work closely with the education sector to understand their views and priorities for the formula and will bring forward proposals for full consultation later in the autumn.”
Picture: Alan Mak MP with Schools Minister Nick Gibb and Havant Academy pupils