Cambridge: Minister Visits School

By Tom Horn, 27th June 2012, 12:10

Children and Families Minister Sarah Teather has paid a visit to a school in Cambridge which is due to get a £10 million rebuild.

Manor School in Cambridge was recently granted funding to be redeveloped after being described one of a number of schools "in the very worst condition" across the country.

Today (Wednesday) Liberal Democrat Minister for Children and Families Sarah Teather paid a visit to the school, joined by Cambridge MP Julian Huppert.

They met Headteacher Ben Slade and took a tour of a number of lessons, including maths and art.

The Minister told Heart: "I've been really impressed with the students who have been very confident and very ready to tell me about what they're doing.

They're obviously very proud of their school and that's always a really good sign.

The students also told me that they really like their school even though the building is not in a good state, and that's testament to how hard the staff have worked to keep it together.

The school clearly needs a rebuild, but it's an exciting time for the school and I'm delighted students will be involved in the design of the new buildings."

Cambridge Lib Dem MP Julian Huppert added: "Manor has obviously been through some very tough times, but Ben Slade is doing a really fantastic job in improving it.

Pupils are now proud of their school, which hasn't always been the case.

I'm delighted that we in government can do something to help; both by re-building the school and by providing Manor with around £100,000 via the Pupil Premium fund, so the school can do more to help pupils".

[Pictured top right - left to right - Manor School Headteacher Ben Slade, pupil Geoffrey Faye from Cambridge, Cambridge Liberal Democrat MP Julian Huppert and Liberal Democrat Minister for Children and Families Sarah Teather]