Yesterday there was great news for young people in Reading. After years of underprovision of school places under Labour’s rule the Secretary of State for Education’s announced in the House of Commons that a new school will be opened in East Reading. The school will be a new University Technical College catering for 14-19 year olds.
The news from Michael Gove MP follows a painstaking year-plus of planning, involving putting together a top quality group of stakeholders, a lengthy and detailed programme of meetings and other activities led by Reading East MP Rob Wilson to provide a new facility offering top quality educational access for young people.
The stakeholders brought together by Rob include Reading University, Oxford and Cherwell College, Reading College and Reading School, Microsoft, Network Rail, BT, Peter Brett Associates, Research in Motion (Blackberry) and Cisco.
Rob said: “This is fantastic news for east Reading as the new school will provide excellent education for young people. Times are tough financially but I am pleased that the team I put together has been met with success and that we are investing in Reading’s most valuable asset – our young people.
I would like to thank all those who have been involved and given me their support in making this happen.”
Rob Wilson was congratulated by the Education Secretary in the House of Commons during the statement, as follows: -
Mr Rob Wilson (Reading East) (Con): I warmly welcome my Right Hon. Friend’s statement. I am delighted that the new school that I championed in Reading East is moving towards a 2012 opening. Will he confirm that UTCs are an essential addition to choice in our schools and join me in acknowledging the huge contribution that Lord Baker of Dorking has made to this successful programme?
Michael Gove: I am delighted to underline my debt to both Lord Baker of Dorking and my Hon. Friend, who was one of the early advocates of free schools and the pupil premium. I am absolutely delighted that this ministerial team is able to take forward proposals that he championed when we were in opposition.
This is a real achievement led by Rob Wilson MP and delivered by a Conservative Secretary of State for Education. Labour locally have been dragged along behind offering only grudging support for this much needed new school. Once again local Conservatives are leading the agenda on things which matter to local residents.