I regularly invite schools up to Parliament to show them round the Palace of Westminster, one of Britain's most historic buildings, and I regularly visit schools across Sussex Weald, one of the most rewarding parts of being an Member of Parliament.
If you are interested in a tour of Parliament for your school, or would like me to visit your school, please get in touch either by emailing [email protected].
The biggest achievements in my role as MP for Wealden between 2015-2024 before the constituency became Sussex Weald include:
Securing over £3 million for Crowborough's Beacon Academy and over £600,000 for Uplands Academy in Wadhurst
In 2021, following two years of continuous efforts and campaigning, I am proud to have helped secure over £1.3 million for upgrades to Crowborough school Beacon Academy for building upgrades via the highly competitive Government Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) to improve the roof at its Sixth Form Centre. This process has been ongoing for almost four years and the successful outcome of the applications was confirmed in July 2021 with a total of £1,395,496 awarded to the school to address significant condition need, keeping education provider buildings safe and in good working order.
Since then, I have supported Beacon Academy in securing a further £1.5 million in 2023 for further upgrades to its fire alarm system, and additional funding again in 2022 and 2024.
I'm proud to have also helped secure nearly £600,000 for Uplands Academy in Wadhurst in August 2023 and additional funding again in April 2024
Securing Government funding for other schools and educational institutions
- Facility improvements: Hailsham Community College, St Mary’s School and Sir Henry Fermor Church of England Primary School have also previously benefited from support secured via the Government Condition Improvement Fund (CIF)
- Funding for Bowles outdoor education centre: Sixteen charities in Wealden have received funding from the £200m Coronavirus Community Support Fund, totalling £237,956. Bowles Rocks Trust is one of the recipients. I visited Bowles centre to learn about the hardships faced by the sector and advocated for them in Parliament to remain open for residential education visits for children.
Celebrating the opening of a new school - Ropemakers Academy, Hailsham (October 2021) with dedicated specialist teachers to support children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Saving Fletching CE Primary School from closure following anxious and extensive campaigning, community coordinated submissions, face-to-face meetings with East Sussex County Council (ESCC) and lobbying of the Education Minister.
Below are just some of my additional campaigns and engagements:
- regularly visited our local schools in person or virtually, including Mayfield school, Ashdown Primary School in Crowborough, Frant CE Primary School, Buxted Primary School,
- hosted Sacred Heart School, Wadhurst, Frant CoE Primary School, Rotherfield Primary School, Blackboys and Framfield Schools, Uplands Community College in Wadhurst, Bede’s School and others.
- ran the Ghani Ambsassador Programme, a week-long programme involving working with myself and my team in Parliament where students get the opportunity to gain an insight into the day to day work of an MP, attend debates and Select Committee meetings, as well as learning skills such as how to debate, prepare briefing documents and monitor campaigns. The hands-on experience concludes with a day in the constituency where the students join me on local visits and meetings to learn about my work.
- Led a campaign with Hellingly Primary School regarding traffic and parking issues and supported them in getting the situation improved and resolved by making urgent representations to the Director of East Sussex County Council Highways department
- Worked with Hailsham Community College and championed their annual careers fair. The Careers Fair exhibits various work opportunities locally and nationally, broadens the horizons of our young people and inspires their future career choices
- Celebrated local teachers by Welden Hero Awards to recognise the swift adaptation of schools to provide essential education children throughout the pandemic and original ways to keep pupils motivated. I was delighted to present two Wealden teachers - Annette Stow, Headteacher at St Mark’s CE Primary School in Hadlow Down and Heidi Greenwood, Primary school teacher in Hailsham, with the Wealden Hero Award
- During the Covid-19 pandemic, I remained regular contact with Wealden schools to listen to their concerns and provide advice, help and representation. I advocated for greater mental and physical wellbeing support for Wealden children and urged the Government to put a rigorous health support package in place for our children. I also added my voice to the 'UsForThem' campaign to get schools back to normal. Set up in May 2020 in response to the first wave of closures of schools across the UK, re-opening schools remains the primary campaign. I'm pleased that pupils across East Sussex have benefited from 3,729 laptops and tablets to date, as the Government hits an important milestone in its rollout of devices to support disadvantaged young people.
