*Photo with Gavin Williamson MP taken before COVID-19 social distancing measures introduced.
- New free school for Wolverhampton - Star Leadership Academy
- S.Peter's Collegiate Church of England School to be rebuilt
- Stuart has been campaigning hard for more funding since he was first elected as an MP
Stuart Anderson MP has welcomed crucial funding for local schools. The Star Leadership Academy in Wolverhampton is one of 21 schools that has been approved as part of the Government’s free school programme. Another school – S.Peter's Collegiate Church of England School – will be rebuilt as part of the Government’s £1 billion transformative school rebuilding programme.
Over the next decade, the School Rebuilding Programme will deliver 500 projects that will see schools rebuilt across the country. The rebuild at S. Peter’s is one of the first schools to be included in the programme. It will create a modern education environment and provide new facilities for local young people. The school will also be built back greener – helping to meet the Government’s target to reach net zero emissions by 2050. The programme will create jobs, apprenticeships, and training opportunities, with suppliers offering training and employment as part of their work on the rebuilds.
Creating better opportunities for young people is an integral part of Stuart’s plan for his time as an MP. Since being elected, Stuart has continued to make representations to Ministers at the Department for Education to ensure that Wolverhampton is included in the Government’s plans.
Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, Stuart has been working hard with local schools and education leaders to ensure that they are fully supported. As a result, schools in the Wolverhampton South West constituency have received more than £1 million in COVID-19 catch-up funding. This is on top of increased funding for all schools. In the 2021-22, total funding for schools in the constituency sits at more than £65 million – a percentage increase of 4.8% compared to 2020-21. Wolverhampton’s primary schools have also received almost £500,000 in PE and sport premium allocations.
Stuart Anderson MP said: “This is fantastic news for our city. I have been campaigning non-stop for a new school to be built in our city, and I am really delighted that this hard work is paying off. In addition to delivering a new school, the Government’s plan will see a well-established school redeveloped, enabling it to further enhance its facilities and build back greener. As a parent and as an MP, I am determined to continue to see our communities levelled up so that we can unleash our young people’s potential. I am glad that the Government has kept its promise on this.”
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “Today we are launching the first phase of our ambitious new schools programme, with 50 rebuilds and 21 new free schools. The rebuilding projects are just the start of our major ten-year programme, transforming hundreds of schools and improving the education of tens of thousands of children. Alongside this, over 15,500 children will now benefit from 21 new free schools across the country as we look to build back better after the pandemic. I am determined to get all children back into education as soon as possible, and will make sure we do not let the pandemic stand in the way of giving every young person the opportunity to succeed, progress and fulfil their potential.”