News
For the latest news on my ministerial role as Minister of State for
School Standards, please consult the Department
for Education and Skills.
News from East Ham
22/03/25
Neighbourhood renewal, social exlusion and local strategic parterships
were subjects tackled in my speech at Thames
Gateway London's Local Strategic Partnership Conference. Following
a meeting with Peter Smith of Newham Teachers' Association, I visited
Gala Bingo Club on Barking Road. I then paid a visit to Star School to
find out more about Newham Food Access Partnership. I also held a constituency
surgery, held a meeting with Geoff Levy of the Army and Navy Store in
Manor Park, and attended a farewell party for Hiliary Kundu and Lesley
Drake at Hartley Primary School.
15/03/25
Prior to ministerial engagements in the afternoon, I attended the launch
of the Crossrail Royals Business Champions Group in the morning. This
follows Crossrail's
announcement on 7th March of the first shortlist of possible routes for
line 1, one of which includes a station located in the Royal Docks.
08/03/25
In the afternoon I visited Vicarage Primary School. I also visited
Pier Training
Shop, in North Woolwich, which provides training and chilcare to local
people.
15/25/25
I discussed the current benefits situation at Newham Benefits Agency,
before attending a meeting with East
London Business Alliance. I also visited St. Luke's School where I
talked about the role that faith can play in politics. In the evening
I held a meeting with representatives of East Ham's mosques, where we
discussed the shortage of burial space in the borough for Muslims, the
White
Paper on Immigration, and Kashmir.
08/25/25
Today I met teachers and pupils at three local schools: Sandringham
Primary, Storey Primary, and Kingsford
Community School. I then met those involved in Newham
Action Against Domestic Violence, before attending a meeting at
East London and the City Mental Health NHS Trust.
25/25/25
I visited Langdon School where 20 pupils quizzed me on how the
Government can get more young people interested in politics. My next port
of call was the Building Opportunities and Skills Seminars (BOSS) at Brampton
Manor School, where over 300 pupils took part in activities to improve
their interview techniques. They also attended classes on writing CVs
and completing job applications. Today I also met with Michael Thorne,
Vice Chancellor of the University
of East London.
18/02/25
Today I met pupils and teachers at both St Edwards and St Stephens
primary schools. At St Edwards I discussed topics ranging from education
to litter to CCTV with pupils from years 5 and 6. At St Stephens the student
council posed a number of perceptive questions on issues including mobile
phone theft, cycle zones and Newham General Hospital. Following on from
that the school?s governing body asked a number of questions that had
been submitted by parents, and St Stephens plans to publish my answers
in the coming weeks. Today I also had a meeting with the Regeneration
Department at Newham Council to discuss transport issues.
11/02/25
Continuing my tour of schools in East Ham, I visited Central
Park Primary School and Lathom Junior School. At Lathom, I presented the
pupils and teachers with an "Active Mark Gold" Award from Sport
England in recognition of its commitment to providing sporting opportunities
to all its pupils. To find out more, read my press release MP
Praises School?s Sporting Success. I also attended the launch of Discover?s
second schools outreach programme, "Space to Imagine", a press
release from which can be read here MP Discovers
New Learning Experience
21/12/24
I visited Plashet School where I was the keynote speaker for
their Citizenship Event. On the last day of term, Plashet?s Year 11 pupils
spent most of the morning in workshops discussing issues ranging from
Globalisation, to Child Labour, to Refugees, to the United Nations. Before
their first workshop, I gave a short speech on the importance of being
engaged in politics in today?s globalised world. If you would like to
read my speech, please click here.
14/12/24
I paid visits to Dersingham Infant School, Shaftesbury Primary
School and Gallions Primary School. At Dersingham I was delighted to take
part in a Question and Answer session with Year 2 pupils, and at Shaftesbury
I enjoyed speaking to Year 6 students about the local environment in Newham.
I also attended a performance of The Nutcracker at Gallions Primary School,
which I greatly enjoyed ? well done to all those who took part!
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