Roundtable discussion with Head Teachers

October 11, 2021 0 Comments by Chris in Education

This morning I went to a roundtable discussion with head teachers from across Ipswich, Partnership Board representatives and local practitioners. Was great to have a ministerial visit from Will Quince, Minister for Children and Families, who emphasised the importance of schools incorporating enrichment activities alongside academic focuses to improve all-round progress. I am particularly impressed with the success of ‘Thrive’, a SEND initiative which sees specialised well-being support provided to students – and am glad to hear this is being extended.

Ipswich is one of 12 areas nationally to receive extra funding as a targeted “opportunity area”, designed to unlock the potential of England’s young people – demonstrating the government’s commitment to levelling up our region and putting education at the heart of the agenda. While this dedicated funding was initially a 3 year commitment, I’m delighted at the recent news to extend the provision.

There is a collective responsibility for children in Ipswich, and I was reassured to see the commitment from around the table to prioritising education and ensuring the best outcomes in Ipswich schools.