Wednesday 2 November 2011

Prime Minister welcomes Prudhoe School Bid

We have officially taken the bid to rebuild Prudhoe High School to the very top today when at PMQ's I was able to raise issue with Prime Minister David Cameron.

At today's Prime Minister's Questions I highlighted the lack of funding for Northumberland's High Schools in previous years and asked Mr Cameron to welcome bids for extra funding. The Prime Minister reassured me that the schools budget would be rising and told the Commons he 'will certainly welcome the bid" from the County Council to replace Prudhoe High School.

It follows us raising the matter with Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove, and Schools Minister Nick Gibb.

If successful the bid would mean a brand new high school for Prudhoe as well as freeing up extra cash for the maintenance capital programme which could also see repairs to Haydon Bridge, QEHS and Ponteland High. The money could pay for new heating, replace windows, repair wiring and many crucial improvements.

I am very pleased to have the Prime Minister back the bid and recognise the importance of funding our high schools in Northumberland.

We await the final decision, and I will continue to do all I can to lobby in the bid's favour.