This week Laura contributed to the Opposition Half Day Debate on Safety of School Buildings.
In her speech, Laura praised the Government's record on education since 2010 and the funding that schools in West Berkshire have received to improve school buildings and facilities.
Laura said:
“In the three and a half years in which I have represented my constituency, a brilliant new primary school, Highwood Copse, has opened in the south of Newbury. Two more, Francis Baily Primary and Whiteland Park Primary in Thatcham, have received significant funds for badly needed overhauls. Three secondary schools, Trinity, Park House and Kennet, have also received significant funds. In fact, only one secondary school has not received money. John O’Gaunt, a secondary school in Hungerford, was one of the 239 schools selected for funding from the Government’s £1.8 billion school rebuilding programme in September. I have watched school premises in my constituency improve significantly, so I know that the money is there.”
At the end of her speech, Laura highlighted that 100 of the 156 schools affected by Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) —less than 0.5% of the total of 22,000 in the country—are already back in operation, and running face-to-face teaching. Only four are currently online. Laura called on the Education Secretary to ensure that these schools are given a clear timeline and transparency going forward.
