I was delighted to welcome Education Minister Josh MacAlister to Oulder Hill Secondary School this week, and to see first-hand the “fast-improving” results the school is achieving in a working-class community.
The school is doing excellent work at turning around outcomes for local children, and the pupils themselves are showing the same initiative to improve their learning. Educational success has risen by 10% overall, by 22% for pupils who receive Free School Meals, and by 12% for SEND pupils. Attendance is also up by as much as 8%.
Josh is a former pupil at Oulder Hill and is now a Government Minister, so I was especially pleased to show him around. He was joined by another former pupil, our neighbouring MP for Rochdale, Paul Waugh.
A school with a connection to three MPs is highly unusual, but I think it also proves that regardless of your background, you can achieve success. My focus is making sure all schools in our area are able to give our children the start they need, and this Government’s commitment to repairing 14 years of underinvestment in education by the last government is a vote of confidence in the future of our communities and children.