MP Mary Macleod responds to concerns from parents, teachers and pupils

Responding to concerns from local parents and teachers about what this week's Comprehensive Spending Review means for schools in her constituency, MP Mary Macleod said: “The Spending Review has focused on reducing welfare costs and wasteful spending. This has enabled the Coalition Government to prioritise the NHS, schools, early years provision and the capital investments that support long term economic growth.

"Over the course of the Spending Review period, the schools budget will enjoy modest growth, with real terms increases of 0.1 per cent per year, including a £2.5 billion pupil premium to support pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.

"There will be £15.8 billion of capital funding over the Spending Review period which will enable the rebuilding or refurbishment of over 600 schools from the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) and Academies programme.

"There is an independent Capital Review underway at the moment, which is due to report its findings in December. I will work with the Department of Education to understand the implications of the revised capital budgets for schools within Brentford & Isleworth, including those whose BSF funding was cancelled.”

Chiswick Community School had been identified as the pilot school for Hounslow Borough's Building Schools for the Future programme. Their funding was withdrawn in full earlier this year. It is still not yet clear what, if any, works will take place at the school.

An interview with Chiswick Community School's Headteacher Tony Ryan can be read here.

October 26, 2010