Archive for the ‘Education’ Category
Boosting apprenticeships for young people and small businesses in Bedford & Kempston
Posted by admin | Filed under Bedford & Kempston, Business, Economy, Education, Universities & Skills
New data shows that 600 Apprenticeships have been delivered in Bedford & Kempston in the last year, up 70% on the previous year.
Richard, who recently visited Ultra Precision Engineering in Kempston, where they have just taken on two new apprentices from the Bedford Training Group, said that the record rise in apprenticeship numbers shows commitment to helping employers train the skilled workers they need to build a stronger, growing economy. He added that companies like Ultra Precision Engineering are providing a vital role in skills development.
He was also delighted with the Government’s announcement that it will offer cash bonuses to employers for taking on an apprentice aged between 16 and 24 and urges companies in Bedford and Kempston to take up this opportunity.
For more information on apprenticeships, please visit this link.
Richard presents Tesco goodies to Hills Lower and Hazeldene Lower Schools
Posted by admin | Filed under Bedford & Kempston, Education
Richard presented awards to two local schools at Tesco on Riverfield Drive, Bedford, as part of the 10th anniversary of the ‘Tesco for Schools and Clubs’ initiative.
The Hills Lower School and Hazeldene Lower School – where Richard was a formal pupil – were represented by children and teachers from the schools, who were awarded goodies by Richard, on behalf of Tesco, to take back to the classroom. Vouchers were collected by the schools, parents and children and then exchanged for equipment, such as digital cameras, to be used across the school curriculum.
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MP congratulates Bedford & Kempston GCSE students and schools
Posted by admin | Filed under Bedford & Kempston, Education
Richard Fuller, MP for Bedford and Kempston, has welcomed the news of improved GCSE results from Bedford Borough’s Upper schools.
Richard said:
“I congratulate the improved performance of schools in Bedford and Kempston at GCSE on the key standard of 5+ GSCEs at grades A* to C, including Maths and English, and in particular the strong double digit improvements at Hastingsbury, Mark Rutherford and Wootton and the strong improvement at Bedford Academy, continuing its progress for four consecutive years.
“I also congratulate the students for all their achievements and hard work over the last two years and wish them all the best for their futures.”
Richard praises green training in Kempston
Posted by admin | Filed under Business, Climate Change, Economy, Education, Universities & Skills
Richard with Jake Marsden (PV Installer) at Carillion
Bedford MP Richard Fuller has praised local company, Carillion Energy Services for its commitment to training and apprenticeships.
The MP was keen to see how the company was creating sustainable jobs in Bedford and the impact that this was having upon skills in the area.
Mr Fuller met senior managers and also had the opportunity to speak first hand with renewable installation engineer, Jake Marsden who gained vital training on the installation of solar photovoltaic panels at the Academy and qualified fully in October 2010.
Richard said: “I was really pleased to see first hand the scale of the Training Academy and I am particularly proud that Carillion Energy Services have chosen to use Bedford as the location for their UK Training Academy. Green Skills and employment are vital to the development of both the local and wider economy and here in Bedford, we are actively involved in developing these.”
UPDATE – My full speech at Bedford Academy
Posted by Richard | Filed under Bedford & Kempston, Bedford Academy, Education
On the 5th July, I spoke at Bedford Academy’s ‘Sod Turning Ceremony’. Here is the full text of the speech I gave:
“We meet today, not only to celebrate a building, but to celebrate education.
Not only to mark the achievement of a goal, but to ready ourselves for the challenge ahead.
Nothing defines better the success of a community than the teaching of its children.
Nothing fuels the innovation, the creativity, the passions, the heart, the strivings, the successes of the generation of Bedfordians that will follow us – nothing fuels this future, more than the passion, dedication and skills of our teachers.
Today, at Bedford Academy, we recommit ourselves as a community to the critical importance of raising educational standards and strengthening the ethos of high expectations, respect, openness and honesty with a focus on every student; the ethos that lies at the heart of this Academy. Principal, teachers, assistants and staff – we commend and encourage your every effort.
Today, we commit ourselves, not only to the education of every student, but to each year of schooling. We recognise that each child only gets one chance at each year of their education.
We commit ourselves that the quest for higher standards is not only a long term discussion, but an urgent priority for today, where failure to perform demands leadership and action so that not one single year of any child’s education is wasted.
Building work begins at Bedford Academy
Posted by admin | Filed under Bedford & Kempston, Bedford Academy, Education
Richard was guest of honour at the “Sod Turning Ceremony” for the new Bedford Academy building on Tuesday (5th July). The funds for the new academy building were secured by Richard last year.
In his speech to the students, teachers and sponsors, he said:-
“Today, we commit ourselves, not only to the education of every student, but to each year of schooling. We recognise that each child only gets one chance at each year of their education.
We commit ourselves that the quest for higher standards is not only a long term discussion, but an urgent priority for today, where failure to perform demands leadership and action so that not one single year of any child’s education is wasted.”
The school thanked Richard by baking a delicious cake (pictured above)!
Cub Scouts Pack into Parliament as Richard Fuller MP becomes Scout Leader for the Day – includes video!
Posted by admin | Filed under Bedford & Kempston, Community Relations, Education, Parliament
Richard recently became a Scout Leader for the day as 28 Cub Scouts, from across the UK – including members of our own Brickhill Cub Scouts – held the first ever Pack meeting at the Palace of Westminster. The event was part of The Scout Association’s drive to promote the benefits of volunteering to adults.
A collection of MPs worked with 12 adult leaders from around the UK for Volunteers’ Week. They helped the Cubs enjoy a number of activities including setting up a camp and going on an indoor expedition. (See below for video)
The benefits that volunteering has had on the lives of the adult leaders present was clear to all the MPs. Many of the leaders at the meeting only joined Scouting in the last two years.
Setting Our Training Experts Free from Labour’s Paperwork Mountain
Posted by Richard | Filed under Economy, Education, Universities & Skills
Talking with the inspiring Rakesh Ram at Community LD, a town centre group that provides training and support for people seeking employment, I got a clear understanding of what a crushing burden the top down, bureaucracy beloved of Prime Minister Brown can be. Rakesh is local, highly motivated, experienced and capable. In short, he is exactly the sort of person that someone in Bedford would want to turn to get advice and encouragement. However, because of the intrusive, restricting and obsessive requirements of the bureaucracy, Rakesh finds much of his time taken up by the requirements of form filling, and less of his time available for doing what he loves to do –serve the needs of his clients.
Evening with the Entrepreneurs – Success
Posted by Richard | Filed under Bedford & Kempston, Business, Education
Richard with participants in the Evening with the Entrepreneurs Event at Bedford College
The question that is most on the minds of people when I chat with them on the doorstep is “What can we do about the economy?”
People know that the country’e economy is in a mess – and they will render their judgement on those responsible when the time comes. They know it is tough to answer all the questions; that there is no magic wand that can wave away the colossal debts racked up by the Government. What people are looking for is a clear way forward and for leaders who can inspire confidence and who can lead.
Well, Bedford College was the venue in late March for a panel of leaders of business and social enterprise; people who can inspire, who have led, and who had very clear views of the way forward. Their audience was the next generation of leaders – those in our upper schools, our colleges and other young people who have an idea, an inspiration of their own – and who were looking for advice and guidance about how to move forward. You can see a video clip from Local News TV below:
Hosted by Irfan Latif, Deputy Head of Bedford School, the panellists took turns to describe their passion for what they do, how they got a start in life and what drives them forward. First up was Adele Blakebrough, a pioneer in social enterprise and founder of the Breakthrough Foundation. Damon Buffini, the Chairman of Permira spoke next and spoke of his work with Fairbridge, a nationwide charity that helps young people in to work.
Tim Campbell, the winner of the TV show “The Apprentice” spoke about the motivations from his childhood, about working with Alan Sugar and of his current project, The Bright Ideas Trust, that invests in businesses started up by young people in London. Next up was our own, Lance Haggith, founder of Sports Traider and he was followed by Shaa Wasmund, who spoke directly of the drive that came from her experiences at school and which led her to work for Chris Eubanks, Bob Geldof and James Dyson.
Sparking, nurturing, investing behind and supporting entrepreneurial talent is the key to our country’s future success. We have enormous talents here in Bedford and Kempston, and also across our nation – talents that can revolutionise our social services, create breakthrough ideas and build world beating companies. Government can help to enable those who aspire; it can break down barriers that inhibit people from stepping forward with their idea; it can encourage people to take entrepreneurial risks; it can reward those who succeed from those risks, and for those who fail, give them a second chance to learn from their mistakes by trying again.
It was an exceptional panel discussion, expertly hosted by Irfan Latif who managed to draw out common themes and produce a vivid picture of entrepreneurship that can inspire a new generation of Bedfordians.
On the Decision to Move to Two Tier
Posted by Richard | Filed under Education
So the Mayor, Executive and now the Council have made the decision to move, now, to a two-tier education system. We will embark on an expensive overhaul of our soon to be “Upper” schools and an expansion of the size of our Primary schools.
Putting on one-side the educational merits of two-tier vs three-tier – and on balance, I believe the arguments were in favour of two tier – the decision for a change is a very risky one at this time. The current government has so severely undermined the economy that there is very little faith that it has the money needed to meet its public funding promises. When the current period of artificial stimulus is over, and whichever party is in government, there will be a strain on the public finances more severe than any in living memory. Yet, despite this backdrop, the Mayor has led the decision to ask the Government for more money and foolishly taken them at their word that they have the wherewithal to pay. I have my doubts.
