I’m a member of the Northumberland County Council steering group for the £36m investment in the new schools development at Queen Elizabeth High School in Hexham. We had a fascinating update today and the build is progressing at pace despite Covid and the weather and is on schedule. I can’t wait for the Covid restrictions to be lifted so we can get on site and take a proper look.
It’s already a great school but these new facilities are much needed and will be transformational.
Anybody wanting to see a bit more detail can find it here.
One of the most serious consequences of the national lockdown is upon the education of our young people. The BBC are offering 3 hours of primary school programming each week day from 9am and 2 hours of secondary programming on BBC Two – from next Monday.
Details of the design and the contract award for the building of a new schools complex in Hexham have been announced. Our Conservative administration are making a significant £30m+ investment in building new schools for Queen Elizabeth High School and Hexham Middle School on the QEHS site. The listed Hydro building will become the frontage of the school with the new build tot he rear. Galliford Try will be the contractor.
Local people fought hard for the retention of the three tier system that serves our children so well in the west of the county and was essential that much needed investment was made into our High School – the pinnacle of our successful system. I’m proud to be part of the Northumberland County Council Cabinet that made this decision.
The Daily Mile is a national campaign aimed at improving the physical, social, emotional and mental health and wellbeing of school children. It is fun, free and easy to do and we’re promoting it with schools in Northumberland.
The benefits are enormous. Exercise is habit forming and so children who do so regularly when they are young will stay fitter and healthier in later life. Children concentrate better after exercise, learn more and get better grades.
It’s great to see my NCC cabinet colleagues Wayne Daley and Veronica Jones getting behind this and I hope one day every school in our county will do the daily Mile.
Northumberland is in the top three nationally for pupils getting into their first choice secondary school and with standards rising across the county the prospects for our young people are improving. Read more in the Guardian here.
I was delighted to open an event at the FUSE Centre in Prudhoe promoting STEM subjects to school pupils aged 9 to 14. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics are fascinating and important subjects and children studying these subjects will be employable and will contribute to our future prosperity.
Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) are high on the agenda for all educational establishments and workplaces.
As a council we wish to promote them by engaging with local schools, children and businesses to increase the opportunities available in our county and showcase the exciting and varied career opportunities that the STEM subjects can open up for our young people.
