Leigh school funding

Southend West MP Anna Firth has celebrated securing investment for Blenheim Primary School after lobbying the Education Ministers for vital cash from the School Rebuilding Programme.

The school rebuilding programme carries out major rebuilding and refurbishment projects at school and sixth-form college buildings across England, with buildings prioritised according to their condition.

Blenheim Primary School is one of 239 schools across the country which has benefitted from the £1.8 billion scheme aimed at updating and modernising buildings. Each school in the programme has been selected based on the condition of its buildings, making sure the greatest improvements are delivered for schools that need them the most and maximising children’s chances to gain the skills and knowledge they need.

This vital investment will improve the experience of local students who have been persevering with seriously damaged classrooms since storms in February.

Consequences of the torrential wind and rain in February included damaged roofs, broken internal ceilings, broken furniture, damp carpet, and rain leaking into classrooms. Touring the school earlier this year, Anna Firth MP commended the teachers for their resilience as they continued to provide first-class education to young people in difficult conditions.

Since then, Anna has lobbied Ministers at the Department for Education for funding and met with Baroness Barran MBE, Minister for the School System, imploring for Blenheim Primary School to be included in the fourth round of schools. As well as delivering world-class learning environments for pupils, the School Rebuilding Programme will also create opportunities, jobs, and apprenticeships – from the construction industry to suppliers, businesses will be offering training as part of their involvement in the projects.

The news is a massive success and will allow the school to build back and provide the facilities students in Southend deserve, helping them to learn, develop, and achieve their full potential. Rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted in 2020, Blenheim Primary School moves from strength to strength.

Anna looks forward to seeing the repairs in action and will be sure to celebrate with the students soon. “I have been lobbying the Government under every Prime Minister to get this vital cash to Blenheim Primary School.” “The scenes I witnessed earlier this year were absolutely shocking, so I immediately contacted Education Ministers and asked that Blenheim be put at the top of the queue for the School Rebuilding Programme.”

“Although the fantastic teachers were giving it all they had, the conditions were simply unacceptable, and something had to be done.”

“This news is welcomed with open arms, and I am so delighted to have been able to support the amazing staff and students led by Amanda Wiley, Head of School.”