Good visit to thriving Prudhoe business Tyne Valley Plastics - and meet 2 former Hexham QEHS students doing apprenticeships

I went to Prudhoe 2 weeks ago to get to know the local business Tyne Valley Plastics, and meet their employees. The business is based in low Prudhoe and is a bespoke plastics business that provides a specialist local service and great local employment. I also got a better understanding of how the December floods had affected low Prudhoe, and was able to update as to how we are trying to ensure that this does not happen again.
Given that it is National Apprenticeship Week this last week it was also good to hear the stories behind how James Whitmore and Sam Stoves became Apprentices in the business. Both went to school at Hexham QEHS and are clearly relishing their new role. Great credit is due to the team at Tyne Valley Plastics for giving these two young men their opportunity, which they are clearly relishing. Apprenticeships have changed: you can earn, and learn now on a long term basis emerging with real skills, and real opportunities. Both James and Sam were clearly enjoying their first jobs, first proper pay packets and all the responsibility that employment brings. 

Hustings dates - further debates between all 5 candidates at the General Election

Saturday 18^th April Hexham QE High School – 2.30pm. Run by Northumbrians for Peace & sponsored by Hexham Quakers. I have been asked to correct the original posting. I was originally told that this was to be a joint event with the Hexham Abbey, but I am now told this is not the case. It is chaired by George Hepburn. Open to all. If you want to ask a question come along at 2 and a committee will assess the suitability of the question you wish to ask.

Monday 20^th April
19.00 - Prudhoe Hustings - St Mary Magdalene’s Church, Prudhoe. Run by the local  church, and hosted by Rev Charles Hope. Open to all

Friday 24^th April 19.30 - Ponteland Hustings, United Reform Church, Broadway, Darras Hall. Also run by the local Church. Open to all
In addition, there are multiple other debates including 2 school debates:

20/4/15:
9am to 10am - QEHS School Hustings 2015 [pupils, and BBC Radio Newcastle only]

13.30 – Prudhoe CHS School Hustings [pupils only] at the Fuse Media Studies Centre

I am doing a large number of other events, debates and hustings both in the constituency, and in the wider North East, including a BBC TV Debate, and on other media outlets.

Local High Schools get share of extra £12m as part of our Fairer Funding Campaign - local High School specifics explained

In 2014 my campaign to change the rules on schools funding scored a £12 Million success. The new agreement secured from the Government gives a fairer funding deal for our schools.

For many decades our county has had one of the worst funded education authorities. The changes I have been able to help secure will deliver an extra £12 million for Northumberland's schools.
The breakdown locally will mean that next April 2015:
- Haydon Bridge High School will see its funding increase by £170,000,
- while Prudhoe High School will receive an extra £205,000, and a rebuild starting in the spring.
- QEHS in Hexham will get an extra £256,000 and
- Ponteland High School will get an extra £252,000.

At the height of this long campaign I was able to bring Schools Minister, David Laws, MP, to Tynedale to hear the case for fairer schools funding, and let specific teachers make the case to him. He also had a tour of Hexham QEHS, which is next on the list for our attempts to get substantial capital improvements to the aged school infrastructure.

It is great that we have been able to secure a £12m victory for our campaign. I will be continuing my fight for long term fairer funding for our local schools.

Supporting Hexham QEHS Students charity trip and buying Christmas presents at the great Hexham Abbey Christmas Fair

It was a pleasure to meet Amy, one of the QEHS students selling at the Hexham Abbey Christmas Fair and support her 2015 trip, and buy some of her Christmas presents [a very pretty candle in a traditional tea cup and saucer], which she is using to fundraise for the trip. This present is now safely wrapped under the tree. Thanks Amy, and good luck!

Hexham schools discussed in DofE today

I met David Laws, MP, the Minister for Education, today to discuss the ways in which Hexham's Queen Elizabeth High School can be at the front of the queue for any future money for rebuilding or improving the school - using central government money.
We have successfully won the case for a rebuild of Prudhoe High School last year and it has been made clear to me by many parents, children and teachers that Hexham QEHS needs investment. Clearly these are difficult times to be pitching for further capital funds but if you do not ask you do not get. David was very helpful on this issue and made it clear that his department is conducting an assessment of all school buildings, including Hexham, this summer. From that assessment our needs will be clear and the bidding process can begin.
Separately I urged the Minister to come to Northumberland and meet local Headteachers himself and see both the amazing success of our schools and the problems that they face in providing education in a largely rural context. I am hopeful that he will be visiting in the near future this summer, and will let local heads know if and when he is coming. At that meeting I know he wishes to meet with Northumberland County Council officers to discuss amongst other things the Northumberland approach to the Local Government Pension Scheme and the bizarre approach of NCC to pension contributions by schools who are academies or who wish to become academies. I again raised this today. One thing is clear - the overcharging approach of NCC is unacceptable. Ministers agree. Michael Gove, the Secretary of State, agrees. The department for Communities and Local Government agree. This unfair approach will change, and it will change soon.