News from Southampton Labour

Southampton schools overlooked by Coalition’s ‘School Priority Programme’

Today the Department for Education has announced which schools will have its ‘condition needs addressed’ as part of the Schools Priority Programme.

This new programme replaces Labour’s Building Schools for the Future (BSF), which had been set to benefit a number of other schools in Southampton. In Mr Denham’s constituency, only Bitterne Park School has been successful as part of the new programme.

Before the General Election David Cameron told the Southern Daily Echo that Labour’s plan to rebuild five Southampton secondary schools and improve IT facilities in another two would be safe in Conservative hands. However, the plans were completely scrapped by Education Secretary Michael Gove shortly after the Tory-led Government took office.

Mr Denham said; “While I welcome the news that Bitterne Park School’s needs have been recognised, I’m concerned issues have not been addressed by the Government for other schools in my constituency. Both Sholing Technology College and Chamberlayne College for the Arts had applied for BSF money, to help them modernise their own facilities and classrooms.

“Many parents, teachers and children in Southampton were left disappointed the Tory-led Government’s decision to scrap the Building Schools for the Future programme. I’ve said this before and it’s still the case: our children deserve high quality education in high quality surroundings.”

Other news from Southampton Labour

• Denham highlights persecution of Hazaras in Quetta, Pakistan - 5 February 2013
• Southampton Labour saves Woolston Youth Club's services - 5 February 2013
• Southampton Labour finds breathing space for Newtown Youth Centre - 31 January 2013