LETTER: School has made great strides thanks to extra cash

We visited senior staff at the school including head teacher Dick Vasey, school governors and most importantly some of the pupils.

The school has benefited significantly from the Pupil Premium - receiving hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of extra funding targeted at improving results at all levels in the school.

In Ashfield School’s case, they have spent the money so creatively that the School’s Minister personally asked to see for himself. Mr Laws is the Liberal Democrat Minister credited with coming up with the idea of a ‘Pupil Premium’ A policy that has benefited our area so significantly.

We should all be so proud of a school that done exactly what Mr Laws envisaged. Results have improved significantly at the school.

The Pupil Premium has helped fund an alternative curriculum at the school, focusing on vocational subjects like vehicle maintenance, hair and beauty, construction and catering among others. This has helped improve the job prospects of so many pupils. It’s no wonder that round here we have the highest number of apprenticeships in the East Midlands - 4,660 since 2010.

It’s no wonder that Mr Laws described the school as ‘...outstanding.’ Ashfield School should be proud of the work it’s doing - long may it continue.

Gary Britton

Raymond Close, Kirkby-in-Ashfield

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