HARROW'S schools rightly have an excellent reputation. The hard work of pupils, teachers and parents has meant we've seen excellent results year after year. But I want to see reform and further investment to keep our schools among the best in the country.
Many parents and pupils have told me that they would like a primary system that ends at age 11 and a secondary system for ages 11 to 18, this would mean that Harrow schools would be the same as those in neighbouring boroughs.
So I am working with Harrow headteachers and Harrow Council by arranging a meeting with Schools Minister Jim Knight MP in which Harrow can make the case for a change of the age of transfer to 11.
Until recently, parents were concerned at the lack of sixth form classes in our high schools as there wasn't enough choice of post 16 education for our young people.
After a long campaign with Harrow headteachers and a series of meetings with key education ministers, Harrow was given £25m to allow each high school to build their own purpose built sixth form facility. New sixth forms across Harrow schools opened in September 2006 and already have large numbers of students with increased opportunities and choice.
This investment together with £80m for rebuilding Harrow College and £31m committed for rebuilding Whitmore High School represents the largest investment in Harrow schools for a generation.
I worked with Whitmore's headteacher, key councillors and local council staff to persuade ministers to release the money to redevelop Whitmore School. I was able to organise a key meeting with the Schools Minister at the House of Commons to outline how the school would use the money. Whitmore will now be able to develop the school's science and sporting facilities. It will be able to develop further the quality of teaching and equipment on offer to Whitmore students and will be able to expand its sixth form. Whitmore is one of Harrow's excellent high schools with good teachers achieving strong results. This money will help the school to go from strength to strength.
If local school children or any community or work group would like to visit the House of Commons for an educational tour, or if any constituents would like to be kept updated on the progress of the change of school transfer age campaign, they can contact my Westminster office.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article