The Quarterly Report from our MP, Victoria Prentis

Coming from a family of teachers, the importance of education was drummed into me at an early age.

Ensuring all children have access to a good quality education is vital. As a local authority which has been historically underfunded, I welcome the news that the core schools budget in Cherwell will be the highest it has ever been in real terms for the 2024/25 academic year.

The Government’slong-term vision is for a school system that helps every child to fulfil their potential by ensuring that they receive the right support, in the right place, at the right time. A broad and balanced curriculum helps ensure that our young people have the opportunity to achieve their full potential and are prepared for the opportunities and responsibilities of later life.

We have some fantastic schools here in north Oxfordshire with teachers who do their very best to support our children’slearning. One of the best parts about being a Member of Parliament is having the opportunity to get out to visit them regularly and speak to pupils. Recent visits have taken me to HanwellFields to see how Opening School Facilities funding is supporting pupils to live healthy and active lives; Dashwood BanburyAcademy to join a Be InternetLegends assembly teaching onlinesafety; and, The Warrinerwhere I was invited to speak at their Careers Experience Week. This summer I have seen first-hand the impact of recent reforms to the curriculum which have allowed schools to tailor lessons more specifically for their pupils.

When I meet students, I am always so impressed with how engaged they are, particularly about politics. It always shines through at my annual Cherwell Democracy Challenge where teams of students from local secondary schools debate motions on a range of topics relevant to them. Returning for the ninth time this year, my Democracy Challenge coincides with UK Parliament Week which takes place in November. In previous years Banburyhas been one of the most engaged constituencies in the country, with more schools, groups and young people signing up to take part in Parliament Week activities than anywhere else. I am really looking forward to hearing more about what the groups get up to and getting involved with some of their plans.

I was thrilled for those who received good A-Level, T-Level, vocational and technical qualification (VTQ) and GCSE results last month. The past few years have not been easy for young people - including my own children - who had to study through the disruption of the pandemic. I hope all those who sat exams this year got the results they were expecting. There are plenty of options available for people to explore, from university courses to apprenticeships. We are lucky in our area to have so many opportunities on the doorstep.

Victoria Prentis