Bristol MP Charlotte Leslie has been elected to serve on the Education Select Committee in parliament. Select Committees are cross-party committees set up to take evidence, and do detailed work on policy analysis and formation.

For the first time, Select Committee members were voted for by voting amongst fellow MPs in the party. Charlotte is one of just three other Conservative MPs to be elected to the committee.

Commenting, Charlotte said:

“I’ve always had an interest in education because it is quite simply where life chances are won or lost; it’s the start of a life-story; And of course in Bristol, the gulf between the best and the most challenged schools is simply massive and one of my life’s ambitions would be to help close that terrible gap.

 Working on the education select committee will be brilliant because it’s where MPs put party political differences aside to work with other MPs. I’ll be looking at evidence, speaking to a massive range of people on the front line of education and really getting to grips with the gritty detail of what works in education and what doesn’t. It’s what I’m in politics to do – work together to make things a bit better, instead of thrashing about in petty party-political tribalism. 

And it will be fascinating to be part of policy making with so much going on in education at the moment – and I hope it will be a real help in getting things done for education in Bristol. “

Charlotte Leslie has offered her resignation as a governor of St Ursula’s School, saying that in deciding the school’s future, she has to put the needs interests of her constituents in North West Bristol ahead of the school’s priorities.

Charlotte’s resignation follows a letter to Bristol City Council officials, St Ursula’s chair of governors, and prospective sponsors, The Merchant Venturers and Colston’s Girls School, outlining her concern about the direction of travel. She highlighted her concerns and called for a meeting to discuss the school’s admissions policy. She said it would be “a tragedy and, I would even venture, a disgrace” if the school, which is situated in an area of widely recognised, deep parental need for more school places, did not serve the need for a new school, which is right on the school’s doorstep.

Writing to the chair of governors to offer her resignation, Charlotte said:

“The role of school governor is solely to promote the interests of the school. However, since I have been elected the Member of Parliament for Bristol North West, I know that governors and trustees will understand that my primary concern must always be my constituents, who elected me to represent them.”

The letter continued:

 ”I have said before that I cannot happily promote an admissions system for the school which does not serve the local community. Indeed, I strongly believe a future for St Ursula’s exists which serves best both the school and the community in which the school is situated. I do not believe that any conflict between the interests of the school, and of the community need exist at all.

“I must say how much I have enjoyed my time on the governors, and thank you for your support during my time as chairman, during which we made big decisions for the school. But I now feel the time has come for me to support the school and its future in my other role, as MP for the area in which St Ursula’s is situated – Bristol North West. “

Last year, Charotte worked with local parents to start Parents Voice, a campaign group committed to get a new community secondary school for Bristol North West. 

Here is the full draft of the letter that Charotte wrote to Barrie Butler, chair of governors at St Ursula’s:

Dear Barrie,

I am writing to you as Chair of Governors to offer my resignation from the board of Governors of St Ursula’s School. I do so after long consideration, and some regret, but in the strong belief that this is the right thing to do.

The role of School Governor is solely to promote the interests of the school. However, since I have been elected the Member of Parliament for Bristol North West, I know that Governors and Trustees will understand that my primary concern must always be my constituents, who elected me to represent them.

Because of possible or perceived conflicts of interest in this regard, I have decided to resign my position on the board of Governors.

I have said before that I cannot happily promote an admissions system for the school which does not serve the local community. Indeed, I strongly believe a future for St Ursula’s exists which serves best both the school and the community in which the school is situated.

I do not believe that any conflict between the interests of the school, and of the community need exist at all. On all measures, the needs of the school and of the surrounding community are outstandingly mutually compatible; a perfect fit in the jigsaw of Bristol education. However, for the reasons stated above, I now feel that I must resign my position as Governor.

I must say how much I have enjoyed my time on the Governors, and thank you for your support during my time as Chairman, during which we made big decisions for the school.

I have made good friends and am so pleased that I have been able to contribute to securing a flourishing future for this wonderful school. But I now feel the time has come for me to support the school and its future in my other role, as MP for the area in which St Ursula’s is situated – Bristol North West.

I would be grateful if this letter could be recorded in the Minutes. And due to public interest in this issue, and the public nature of my role, I will be making this letter publicly available.

With very best wishes for the future of St Ursula’s School,

Yours sincerely,

Charlotte Leslie MP

Member of Parliament for Bristol North West

As the new MP for Bristol North West, Charlotte Leslie's first priority will be to focus on improving education provision

Charlotte Leslie has thanked the people of Bristol North West for electing her as their MP, and has announced that improving education provision in the constituency will be her first priority.

Speaking after the election, Charlotte said: “It is an enormous honour, and an enormous responsibility to be elected to represent my fellow residents in Bristol North West. There are likely to be tough times ahead, and unfortunately in life, there are no magic wands, but I will be working as hard as I can for our community here in Bristol North West.”

Charlotte’s main focus as MP will be education, looking to improve the schools across the constituency.

Charlotte also hopes to improve transport provision and continue the work she has already done with community organisations.
 
Charlotte said: “I want to solve the crises in both primary and secondary school places, as well as to provide investment to all the schools in Bristol North West in order to see real improvements.”
 
“In transport issues, we need to look at mechanisms to tackle First Bus’ monopoly in Bristol. I will also look to reopen the North Bristol loop line and get Henbury station back in use for local residents.”
 
“I also want to build on the work I have already done in helping community organisations set up alternative activities for young people, such as boxing classes in schools.”

Charlotte has many more plans she hopes to put in place soon. After recovering from the hard-fought election campaign, she is looking forward to starting work as MP for Bristol North West, where she has lived for almost all her life.
 
Although she wants to start making changes immediately in the constituency, she appreciates that some changes will take time to implement.
 
“There are so many things that need doing, and I want to get settled in, and sort out all the admin and logistics of starting a new job like this as quickly as possible so we can get going,” Charlotte said.

“Although change often takes time, I want to stress to all my new constituents that I will be working as hard as I possibly can in my new job, to to serve you, and our city. “

Local parents met the Shadow Education Secretary Michael Gove on Saturday when he visited north west Bristol and promised that a Conservative government will help meet the need for an additional secondary school in the area.

If the Conservative party wins the General Election on May 6, they will support parents who want a new school and will ensure that funding will be found for it. Mr Gove and Charlotte, who went to school in Westbury-on-Trym, listened with interest as parents spoke to them about their concerns over both primary and secondary school places for their children.

A Conservative government will seek to end the current confusion over this issue, which sometimes sees children have to travel to schools many miles away from their homes. It will also put forward vital measures to help existing schools improve, giving teachers more power to discipline pupils; classes will be setted, giving better support to both the most able and least able pupils; and there will be  better and more specialised special educational needs support in every school. A Conservative government would also support St Ursula’s bid to become an academy. Charlotte is a governor at the Brecon Road, Westbury-on-Trym school and was instrumental in the decision to turn the independent school into an academy, something which may happen as early as September 2011.

Charlotte said that Mr Gove’s visit to Bristol was a great chance for local parents to quiz the man who could soon be the Government Minister responsible for education, making a real difference to education policy in the city.

She said: “Michael was able to see the difficulties facing local parents. I spoke to a lot of parents and they were reassured to hear that we share their aspirations.

“It was great to hear that Michael Gove is also passionately dedicated to improve existing schools as well as being committed to creating an additional school for north west Bristol. I have already been working with educationalists across the city to bring the nation’s most promising teachers to the city’s challenged schools, and I’m delighted that Michael Gove is supportive of us.”

The meeting was organised by Charlotte Leslie, the prospective Conservative MP for Bristol North West, who also founded the Parents Voice campaign group. Charlotte formed the group with local parents concerned about the lack of school places to serve the BS9 area.

St. Ursula's decision gives parents new hope and will help safeguard the school's education and ethos for the medium and long term - that's not just for years, but for decades to come.

Local parents have welcomed St. Ursula’s decision to take steps to seek academy status, saying that it gives “new hope” to the campaign for a local school for BS9, and will safeguard the school and the education it provides for not just years, but decades to come.

The announcement was made on behalf of the governors and head of the school, by the new Chair of Governors, Charlotte Leslie.

The Governors and head are currently talking to existing parents of the school, explaining why the decision has been taken, and what it will mean for their children.

An academy is an independent school, which accepts state-funding. The move follows two other independent schools in Bristol successfully moving to academy status.

This move provides new hope for the campaign to get a new community secondary school for North West Bristol.  Over the summer, Charlotte worked with local parents to start the campaign group “Parents Voice”, and later put the group in contact with the national organisation “New Schools Network”, which helps parents take steps to trigger the set up of a new school.

Recently, Charlotte Leslie approached St. Ursula’s to understand the school’s plans for the future, and has helped the board of Governors in their decision to apply for academy status. She was recently elected Chair of Governors to lead the project.

Responding to existing parent’s questions and concerns, chair of Governors, Charlotte Leslie said,

” We understand the concerns of existing parents. We have been explaining to them that in these changing economic times, and in the uniquely competitive environment which faces Bristol independent schools,  we have been looking at options which can best secure the kind of education and ethos that parents and children have previously enjoyed at St. Ursula’s.

The only responsible response to these changing times was to take action and make a decision to  safeguard the education of pupils and the jobs of staff not only for the short term, but for the medium and long term.  We wanted to avoid a situation where the school was focusing on its own viability for the next three of four years to come, which could distract from the focus on teaching and learning.  So in many ways, this move can be seen as the best way of  ‘ changing to stay the same’.”

Most independent schools which have become academies are making the transition with one year of new intake, so that existing pupils move through the school in their class set-up, while the first year intake is a new academy intake.  The main change to existing pupils is that parents with children at the school stop paying fees.

It is hoped that if the process goes smoothly and quickly, the school might be able to open its doors as a new academy in September 2011, otherwise the likely date is  2012.

Commenting on the process ahead, Charlotte said,

” There are still a lot of hurdles to over-come, a lot of hard work to put in, and there is no guarantee our bid will be a success.  However, I am working daily on this with the head and governors. If this bid is a success, I hope it will go some way to solving the school places crisis in North West Bristol, as well as securing the medium and long term future of this much loved school.

” I have always believed that actions speak louder than words; No amount of leaflets or rhetoric is going to make this happen – it’s going to take real, practical action. We need the support of the local council, central government and the wider community. So now the hard work begins to secure this superb school’s education and ethos in the future of Bristol education and to try to make the dream of so many parents into a reality. Wish us luck! “

Read how the Times Educational Supplement has reported the move  HERE

If you would like to be kept in touch with developments, or have any questions or queries, email the school office:  Office@St-Ursulas.Bristol.sch.uk marking  your email ATTN: Charlotte Leslie.
Please specify if you would like to be kept on a mailing list for being informed of developments.

If you would like to add your name to the campaign for a new school for North West Bristol, sign the Parents Voice Petition HERE

Shirehampton Primary School suffers from a lack of green space where children can play games safely. However, local campaigner and Prospective MP, Charlotte Leslie has approached the Council on behalf of the school, and is working with the school and residents to secure a piece of neighbouring waste-land for school use, and at the same time improve the land for residents bordering the area.

Shirehampton Primary School has a need for green space so that its pupils can play games such as tag-rugby, and exercise without fear of injury from falling.  Charlotte Leslie has approached the Council to enquire about the feasibility of the school using a derelict piece of near-land-locked green-space near the school.

Charlotte met with Shirehampton Primary School Council and governors to discuss whether and how pupils would like to use the land. From this meeting, Shirehampton Primary School pupils composed a letter to residents, explaining their thoughts, and seeking a meeting to discuss how the land could best be used. The children’s aim was to improve the land for residents’ use, while establishing it for school use for games lessons and sports day.

Several residents attended a meeting held by the school, with a council representative present, and negotiations are now taking place about the school taking use of the council-owned land next year.

Reporting back, Charlotte Leslie said,

” If we can find a use for this piece of waste-land that improves it for neighbouring residents, and also provides Shirehampton Primary School with some much-needed green-space, we can count this a great success.

I attended a school council meeting where the children told me about their hopes for a little school vegetable garden where they can learn about fresh produce and gardening. It certainly would greatly improve these children’s school experience and I’m hopeful we can find a plan for the land which will please everybody.”

Charlotte: Taking action to help parents

Charlotte Leslie is speaking at a meeting called by the campaign group “Parents Voice” to debate the need for a new secondary school to serve the BS9 area. The meeting is 7pm-9pm, at Westbury Methodist Church, February 15th.

Charlotte was approached by parents concerned that there was no school local to the community of BS9, and together they set up the campaign group “Parents Voice”.

Charlotte subsequently linked the “Parents Voice” group up with national body “The New Schools Network”, which is set up to help parents achieve a new school for their area, if Conservatives get into Government and legislation changes to help parents are passed.

The group now campaigns with and on behalf of parents for a new school for North West Bristol.

Charlotte, who is also now a Governor at St. Ursula’s School, an independent school at the top of  Westbury Road, will be explaining to parents what she has been doing to get the debate ignited,  and concrete steps for going forward.

Speaking in advance of the meeting, Charlotte said:

” I was being approached by so many parents who wanted a solution to the lack of secondary school for the community of BS9. So I stepped up to the plate and helped them form the campaign group ‘Parents Voice’ and then linked it in with “The New Schools Network” – which is a national organisation which can provide real support.

“I am delighted that the group is going from strength to strength, with local parents in the driving seat.  No amount of leaflets or statements of good intent or opinions will actually get a school for North West Bristol. It takes action, taking the initiative – and a lot of hard work. I’ve been putting in the work to galvanize parents, and explore real options for a new school for the area – in real, practical ways.  Not just words.”

The meeting is 7-9pm at Westbury on Trym Methodist Church Hall, Monday February 15th.

Blaise Primary's rights respecting steering group dressed to raise money for children in Haiti and Mozambique

A BRISTOL primary school was presented with a unique piece of artwork, which highlights the issues of rights and responsibilities, as a special assembly this week.

Blaise Primary School, in Clavell Road, took  possession of the original artwork at their UNICEF assembly, held on the morning of Friday, February 5th.

The artwork has been created by Charlotte Leslie following a previous visit to the school to give a talk on leadership to pupils, under a scheme operated by local charity Ablaze. The charity seeks to help raise aspiration amongst pupils and to link schools up with people in business and leadership roles.

Charlotte discussed the schools “Rights Respecting” school status with pupils and was so impressed with their interest in rights and responsibilities that she created a piece of art for them to discuss.  The work comprises the word “Rights”, formed only by ’shadow’.  The appearance of real letters is an optical illusion.  The shadow is made up entirely of the word “Responsibility”, written over and over again.

Speaking before the assembly, Charlotte said:

“I was really impressed with the children’s understanding of rights, and their curiosity about the relationship between rights and responsibility.

“Over the Christmas break, I tried to put that relationship in picture form. The picture suggests that rights are created by collective responsibility, but it would be great if the picture could provide a basis for class discussions.”

Deputy Head, Nicola Austin said:

“We are very proud of our rights respecting agenda, and we’re pleased that Charlotte was able to take an interest in our work. We will be asking the children what they think of rights and responsibilities, and hopefully they will come up with their own thoughts.”

Charlotte and local campaigner Alastair Watson ask questions over development plans

Elmlea infant school has been earmarked by the council for much needed investment to ensure the school buildings meet government standards. Whilst this is very good news for the school, questions have been raised over the decision making process regarding the redevelopment.

Several options have been put forward by the Local Education Partnership ( LEP), comprising the company SKANSKA for planning and building work, the schools, and the Council.  However, parents have raised concerns about the decision making process for the future of the school, which could jeopardise the future of Elmlea Junior School’s much loved playing field.

Parents have set up a website - www.acies.org.uk – with more information about the possible plans.

In answer to these concerns, Charlotte Leslie has written to the Council and LEP, asking crucial questions about the decision making process.

Commenting, Charlotte said:

” Improvements to Elmlea Infant School are very welcome and much needed. And this investment could transform the schooling for young children at Elmlea Infants’ school.  However, this Good News Story is being marred by lack of clarity over the decision making process, and real fears are being raised over the future of the Elmlea School playing field – which is an asset for existing and future generations of children at Elmlea.

I hope that we can unravel the questions that are being asked, and rapidly find a solution which can enable Elmlea Infants’s School to continue its excellent work in the buildings that the school and Elmlea children deserve.”

You can read Charlotte’s letter to Cllr. Campion-Smith and the Local Education Partnership here.

The Ablaze programme taps into local business and entrepreneur enthusiasm and skill, and links it up with local schools and recently received acclaim from Lord Digby Jones - former head of the CBI at their awards event.

Charlotte was invited to Blaise Primary School to explore the children’s aspirations for the future, how they can realise them, to discuss how individuals can make a real difference to the world around them and debate what ‘leadership’ means in practice.

The children also talked to Charlotte about the Rights Respecting School status of Blaise Primary School. They took her on a tour of the school, explaining how the concept of rights and responsibilities fed into their school day.

Commenting on the day, Charlotte said:

” It was a real pleasure to talk to the children at Blaise primary. I was  impressed by their level of maturity , as well as their knowledge of  political systems and historical events, and understanding of playing a responsible role in the world.

” I have to congratulate the Deputy Head, Miss Austen, who has done so much work on the Rights Respecting agenda in the school, and who has also won an award from Ablaze. Bringing an understanding of responsibility and rights to children at an early age is invaluable for future life, and for the citizens of the future.”

For more information about how you or your company could get involved with the Ablaze programme,  email  enquiries@ablazebristol.org