Richard Fuller MP » Schools

UPDATE – My full speech at Bedford Academy

Richard — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 15:48:05 +0000

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.

Today, we acknowledge the dedication of two of our town’s finest institutions of learning – the Bedford Charity and Bedford College – and the guidance they provide to help Bedford Academy achieve its mission. Your sponsorship has been critical to getting to this day of celebration.

Today we praise the parents and carers who listen each evening to their children’s stories of their day at school, who push them to do their homework, who pack their lunches and read them stories, and who wryly smile as they – as we all – remember that although any particular day at school may have been better or worse, that our ‘days at school’ were the most important of our lives.

And today to the pupils of the Academy, to those who are our future, I say that ‘Great things are expected of you.’

Your teachers can see your potential – often before you can see it yourself. Respect them, listen to them. Be aware of all that you can be and not be distracted. Make us all proud through the achievements of your lives and the openness of your hearts.

Today, this day, let us celebrate the great futures that the Bedford Academy will nurture, shape and strengthen.”

Building work begins at Bedford Academy

admin — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 16:50:23 +0000

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.

The school thanked Richard by baking a delicious cake (pictured above)!

On the Decision to Move to Two Tier

Richard — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:18:09 +0000

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.

I say the Mayor has led this decision because his election was pivotal. Once the Liberal Democrats won the recent mayoral by-election, the middle schools gooses had been well and truly cooked. Although all parties split on the decision, Mayor Hodgson came out aggressively pro-two tier in the election, in marked contrast to the Conservative candidate, Parvez Akhtar, who favoured the status quo.

All the assurances about the availability of finances that have been made by the Labour government are now inherited by the Mayor. It his upon his assurances that this major upheaval in education is based. I, for one, would not have taken such a risk with our children’s education, but for all our children’s sake, I wish him luck.