At Department for Education questions in the House of Commons, James Wild MP welcomed new investment in schools in North West Norfolk and urged ministers to make progress on the schemes as rapidly as possible.
Two local schools – Smithdon High School and KES Academy - have been selected as part of the School Rebuilding Programme to rebuild or refurbish 500 schools. After his election, James visited Smithdon to see the buildings and then worked closely with West Norfolk Academies Trust to make the case for Smithdon to be selected as part of the programme and it was included in July 2021. KES Academy, where James is a governor, joined the programme in December 2022 to replace its canteen with modern facilities.
However the Smithdon project is very complex due to the school’s Grade II* listed status. West Norfolk Academy Trust and the Department for Education are working closely on the plans with heritage officers, planning consultants, statutory consultees and others on the plans.
James welcomed the investment but urged the government to ensure progress on Smithdon is made as soon as possible:
“I welcome the recent addition of King Edward VII school to the rebuilding programme following Smithdon High school’s inclusion and investment in new school buildings in North West Norfolk. Will ministers assure me that given Smithdon’s grade II* listed status, and the complexity that adds, that funding is protected and will ministers me to ensure we get the heritage and other permissions needed as soon as possible?”
In response to James, the Secretary of State for Education, Rt Hon Gillian Keegan MP replied:
“My department is working closely with heritage and planning offices to ensure that we can address the condition of Smithdon High school as quickly as possible whilst recognising the listed status of the buildings. We're working on the project with Historic England and The Twentieth Century Society and we'll be very happy to meet with him to provide an update on progress.”
During the questions three other Norfolk MPs also pressed their constituents interests with North Norfolk MP Duncan Baker and Norwich North MP Chloe Smith highlighting the needs of 9,000 young people in Norfolk with special educational needs and disability (SEND) and alternative provision and implementing the SEND Green Paper. Jerome Mayhew MP for Broadland welcomed the new rating of Good for Norfolk County Council’s children’s service after many years of requiring improvement and praised all the staff involved.
