Investment into education, school places and schools is paying off.

Penny Mordaunt MP recently met with Portsmouth City Council Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr. Hannah Hockaday to discuss the recently announced new investment into new school places and new special needs school for the city.

Penny Mordaunt said: “The investment into school places, education and new school locally in Portsmouth is very welcome. Combined with the investment from central government, we’re not only addressing the serious school place shortage that we inherited, but creating learning centres that are fit for purpose in 2018.”

Penny Mordaunt, who was previously the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work added; “The new Special Educational Needs (SEN) school in Wymering will be a welcome addition to the city. I’ve campaigned for better provision for students with disabilities and special needs, and to now see inclusivity being a focus point of investment into education in Portsmouth is very good news indeed. No child should be left behind and we should do all that we can to help them fulfil their full potential.”

The Portsmouth City Council Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr.Hannah Hockaday said; “When I was first elected in 2014, I quickly became aware of the serious school place shortage. When my party became the administration running the city council, the full extent of the problem was nothing short of scandalous, and had been concealed from the public. Schools were literally falling down around students and teachers.

We made a decision back in 2014 that we must set education as one of our top priorities. I’m pleased we did. Four years later and we’ve tackled the and invested into creating the school places needed. We’re investing into school places, buildings and maintenance. Working with Penny Mordaunt as our MP in government for support, I’m proud that this government is investing into our schools and children’s education to ensure a brighter future for all alongside the City Council. The recent boost of £22million from the Education and Skills Funding Agency for the rebuild of Mayfield school being a recent example.”