Writing for this week's Redditch Standard (May 3rd), Rachel said:
"Recently we’ve seen a number of local schools receive excellent Ofsted ratings – further proof young people in Redditch are receiving a great education.
Well done to Matchborough First School, Arrow Valley First School and Trinity High School on their 'Good' Ofsted ratings following recent inspections. The hard work and dedication of all the teachers and leadership teams has rightly been recognised. Thank you for ensuring pupils receive a great education.
This made me reflect on the Conservative Government’s proud record of investing record amounts in our schools and improving school standards.
As a proud product of the state school system myself, I know how vital a first-class education is to unlocking the full potential of young people.
That’s why I’m proud it’s a Conservative Government that’s investing more money than ever before in schools. In 2024-25, the total core schools budget will be at its highest-ever level, in both real terms and in real terms per pupil.
Not only that, but it’s this Government that has selected Arrow Vale High School to take part in the School Rebuilding Programme. This investment will improve the experience of students – helping them to learn, develop, and achieve their full potential. And, since 2018, 16 school projects in Redditch and the Villages have benefitted from the Government’s Condition Improvement Fund.
We also cannot forget that under the last Labour government our education standards plummeted from 8th to 27th in maths, 7th to 25th in reading and 4th to 16th in science. Now, under the Conservatives, we're up to 11th in maths, 13th in reading and 13th in science. Every time Labour get power, education standards fall.
School standards have improved too. 90% of schools are now rated good or outstanding in England, up from just 68% in 2010 under Labour.
Our investment in apprenticeships has paid off too, reversing the last Labour government’s obsession with everyone going to university and their sneering of technical and vocational learning. Since 2010, 10,960 new apprenticeships have been created in our constituency. That’s 10,960 people who were able to learn and earn whilst working. My youngest son, now a qualified mechanic, benefitted from on-the-job learning and I saw for myself the positive impact this had on his life.
We cannot put at risk the progress we have made in improving school standards which is delivering a great education for your child. Let’s keep moving forward with the plan that is working."
