MS06: Future Classrooms

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Astrid Goldman
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MS06: Future Classrooms

Post by Astrid Goldman »

Madam Speaker,

I rise to make a statement to the House in relation to the launch of a new Government programme. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to inform the House of the launch of the Government's Future Classrooms initiative.

When we came into office in 1997, Primary schools up and down this country were crying out for three things; a curriculum that equips our children for life in Twenty First Century Britain, buildings and facilities that were safe and suitable, and a commitment to teaching and learning in-line with teacher expertise. Over the last term, Madam Speaker, this Government have set about addressing those needs substantially. Primary schools have seen considerable public spending investment to repair and improve their buildings and expand their facilities. We have introduced considerable curriculum changes to bring an education system long-abandoned by the party opposite, up to speed with the modern world. We have introduced the Key Stages approach, with significant investment in raising standards, successfully, in Key Stages 1 and 2. We have launched the Sure Start programme of Early Years provision to ensure every child, no matter where in this country they are born, has a chance to succeed.

Madam Speaker, we introduced the National Literacy and National Numeracy Strategies on a trial basis last year and this has been met with considerable successful and positive feedback, launching Primary Education into a new revolution of excellence. Reforms to the Ofsted framework have been welcomed by teaching leaders across the country as a fairer and more transparent mechanism for inspections. Madam Speaker, it is to the credit of the Prime Minister that we can talk about these successes and her tenure as Secretary of State was a substantial part of the success of this agenda.

Madam Speaker, the Government went into the election this year with a commitment to replicate this considerable success in the Britain's Secondary schools and the announcement today is the first part of us achieving that commitment. We will review and address the curriculum for secondary schools, we will improve the standard of teaching and learning in-line with both teacher expertise and research, and we will upgrade buildings and facilities that need substantial investment.

The Future Classrooms initiative will aim to address the challenges of ensuring that Secondary Schools in this country are adequately facilitated and housed. A programme of £1.5bn of investments has been allocated by my colleagues at the Treasury which will be split over three key areas.

Firstly, Madam Speaker, Future Classrooms will oversee the repair works completed across our Secondary schools. This will be for schools to use to repair roofs, windows and the likes and to ensure that classrooms themselves are fit for purpose.

Of course, many schools will be better served, Madam Speaker, by a new building in its entirely. Where this is deemed, in applications processes, to be more cost efficient and financial viable, Future Classrooms can provide some or all of that funding in coordination agreements with local authorities. The Government's commitment to sound fiscal management remains a cast-iron guarantee and where funding for a new building is not suitable, practical or realistic, we will work closely with headteachers and local authorities to source alternative arrangements.

Madam Speaker, we will ensure part of the Future Classrooms total expenditure is reserved for the provision of upgraded facilities for classrooms in Secondary schools, especially suitable and sufficient IT equipment that will ensure schools can adhere to the new National Curriculum for Information Technology introduced last year. It is vitally important that schools have the technological capacity to meet this new demand on their expertise and students which will inevitably result in better opportunities for students to become proficient in the computer and IT skills for a Twenty First Century workplace.

Madam Speaker, this is not just an investment in Secondary schools but a programme of applications, processes and consultations with headteachers and others and so the Government were determined to appoint someone to administer the programme who had a real understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing Headteachers and LEAs in the current context. I am therefore pleased to inform the House that Alan Wood, Former Director of Education for Lambeth Council, has accepted a post as director of Future Classrooms.

Mr Wood, for those members unawares, is a history teacher himself and was Chair of Social Services for Camden Council, served admirably as Director of Education for the London Borough of Lambeth and has recently been serving as Chief Executive of the Learning Trust, overseeing provision for all educational services in Hackney. We are very grateful to Mr Wood for his work in supporting children's services and educational development at local level and I congratulate him, warmly, on this exciting new opportunity.

Madam Speaker, provisions for funding arrangements for the £1.5bn allocated to Future Classrooms will be laid out in the budget in-line, of course, with the Government's continued commitment to sound financial management and targeted investment in our public services. An investment in our schools is an investment in the future of our society and country and I am eager to get started. Madam Speaker, I commend this statement to the House and will be available for questions from Honourable and Right Honourable Members presently.
Astrid Goldman, Lady Goldman MP
Labour Party| Member for Pontefract and Castleford
Secretary of State for Education and Children 2001-present
Previously: MoS for Schools 1998-2001
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Re: MS06: Future Classrooms

Post by Blakesley »

I thank the minister for this statement. The House will now move on to other matters.
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Re: MS06: Future Classrooms

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