Decade long campaign pays off for Hexham's schools

After a ten-year campaign, I am delighted that Queen Elizabeth High and Hexham Middle schools' brand new school buildings are finally complete. 

The new buildings are part of a £36 million investment in Hexham's schools, with state of the art new buildings and facilities, and sports and leisure facilities for community use.

Since I was elected in 2010, I have made it a priority to secure more money and better buildings for our local schools. Back in 2013, I launched the 'Invest in QEHS' campaign with Hexham Councillors Trevor Cessford and Cath Homer and brought the then Liberal Democrat Schools Minister David Laws to Hexham to lobby for a rebuild. 

The completion of the Hexham schools rebuild means that every high school across Tynedale and Ponteland has now been rebuilt or refurbished in the last decade, marking a significant moment in my campaign for better school buildings.

These state of the art new facilities will ensure that pupils get the very best education locally. My thanks to the government, Northumberland County Council and Councillors Cath Homer and Trevor Cessford for all their hard work. 

The new school buildings coincide with a funding boost for schools across Northumberland, with secondary schools across Tynedale and Ponteland now attracting an average of £6150 per pupil- an average increase of £160 this year. Meanwhile, primary schools will see an average of £4800 per pupil, meaning an average increase of £120.