I know many families are still enjoying their summer holidays but perhaps your thoughts have drifted to think about the next school term.

With that in mind I have some good news to share about our local schools.

I can confirm that the county council is to invest in more school places by expanding two Watford schools.

From September 2018 in the Secondary Sector Watford Boys is to expand by 30 additional places in Year 7. In March, the Government provided a cash boost to the school to enable its expansion.

The Grove Academy also benefited from this fund, as has Watford Girls Grammar this month. In the Primary Sector, Leavesden Green is to expand by 30 places from September 2017.

Alongside this St John’s Free School will open for the first time in September! I have been proud to support the project which will open temporarily at St John’s Church and then in a fantastic purpose-built building on Clarendon Road a few years later.

The school will be open to those of all faiths and none in an environment seeped in Christian moral ethos. I can’t wait until it is up and running.

Watford is now in the enviable situation where all of our secondary schools are rated ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted.

Improvements to standards mean that 3500 more local children are being taught in good or outstanding schools as compared with 5 years ago.

We’ve also had the Watford UTC, Lanchester Community Free School and Ascot Road Free School open with Bushey Academy, Francis Combe and soon Westfield Academy, completely re-built. This is well over £50m investment in Watford’s schools.

Coates Way School will be the first to visit Parliament with me in the new term and then Alban Wood.

If your school would like to attend please do get in contact with me so we can arrange a tour. 

I will also start planning my December debating competition soon and then the Reading Poster Challenge so keep an eye out for more information.