Charlotte and Bristol West MP Stephen Williams leaving the Department for Education after successful meeting with the Schools Minister

The Department for Education has today announced an additional £500 million worth of funding for school places. This includes over £18 million for the City of Bristol, which is the fifth highest recipient of additional funding out of 152 Local Authorities in England.

 Charlotte, who has a long-standing reputation as a local education champion, was one of four Bristol MPs who recently took part in a high-level meeting with Schools Minister Nick Gibb to raise the issue of school places across Bristol and took part in a Parliamentary debate on Bristol’s school places crisis.

 Reacting to the announcement Charlotte said:

 “This is fantastic news for local schools in Bristol.

 “There is a desperate need for more primary school places not only in Bristol North West but across our city and I am delighted that this has been recognised by Ministers and reflected in this additional funding allocation. The fact that Bristol has received one of the largest amounts of new investment compared to other Local Authorities in England is a real testament to what can be achieved for our city when elected politicians from all parties work together and speak with one voice. 

 “For too long there has been an over emphasis on improving Secondary School provision and repeated warnings about pressure on primary school places has been ignored. I am delighted that the coalition government are taking such positive action to ensure that every local area has the school places that it needs.

 “Alongside the government’s decision to protect schools spending and to target the poorest pupils through its £2.5bn pupil premium, this money will help schools in Bristol and across the country to deliver a better education for all of our young people.”