£4.2M NETHER STOWE EXTENSION OPENED BY EDUCATION SECRETARY GAVIN WILLIAMSON

Education minister Gavin Williamson officially opened a £4.2 million state-of-the-art extension at a Lichfield school – saying it would benefit ‘generations’ of local youngsters.

Nether Stowe School, in St Chad’s Road, has seen the £4.2 million expansion to cope with an increased demand for school places in the area, with the front of the school extended to provide a new reception, extra classroom space, science labs and a new sixth form area, while a new sports hall is also nearing construction.

And on Friday (June 11) the Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson visited to cut the ribbon and officially open the new block, before being given a tour of the new facilities at the school, which is part of the respected Arthur Terry Learning Partnership (ATLP).

Headteacher Glyn Langston-Jones introduced the minister to staff and students, gave him a glimpse inside the new sports hall before students were given the chance to ask him questions about his work and his thoughts on education.

Mr Williamson said: “It was an incredible privilege to come to Nether Stowe and see the wonderful work that has been done and to hear how it has transformed the school and is already delivering real benefits.

“It just goes to show that this sort of capital investment can not only really change the feel of a school, but also provide an amazing boost to the staff and students, generating a sense of energy and excitement.

“This investment will deliver a benefit not just for the children here today but for generations upon generations of local children, whether that’s through the sport facilities, the science labs or the extra classroom space.”

And Mr Williamson praised the youngsters for the quality of their questions.

“It was lovely to be able sit down and talk to them – they had such an impressive range of questions, covering everything from mental health to next year’s exams and the length of the school day.

“It’s clear these are young people with a real enthusiasm for knowledge, and it was a real testament to the school that they had such brilliant questions – some of which were tough to answer. They definitely kept me on my toes!”

Headteacher Glyn Langston-Jones said: “It was a unique and a pleasurable experience to have the Secretary of State for Education come into the school, and to share what we are doing at Nether Stowe with such a high profile and important figure.

“It allowed us to show off all the hard work that has been put into the new extension, the sports hall and the new facilities, as well as explaining the benefits the investment has brought to pupils and the wider community.

“I think he was really impressed by what he saw. I think he could really see how the investment has transformed the school, and the positive impact all that hard work is already starting to have.

“I was also very proud of the questions that the students came up with and the way they approached the opportunity to speak to a Secretary of State.”

Contractors Novus began work on the new facilities last year on behalf of Staffordshire County Council and the ATLP.

Richard Gill CBE, CEO of the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership (pictured above with Gavin Williamson), said: “It was great to be able to show the Secretary of State around Nether Stowe, so that he could see the huge improvements that have been made and share the excitement that the investment has generated. We would like to thank him for his time.”