Tynemouth MP says he will make “strong case” for local schools afflicted by structural problems
The newly re-elected MP for Tynemouth says he will be “making the case” for funding to four local schools afflicted with structural issues – but that there is no “magic money tree”.
Four schools across North Tyneside have been blighted and disrupted following the discovery of weak and brittle concrete unrelated to RAAC. The local authority was first alerted to the issue in December 2023 when a small piece of ceiling collapsed in Fordley Primary School.
Subsequent structural investigations showed the same problems in Churchill Community College, Grasmere Academy, and Hazlewood Primary. North Tyneside Council has been in talks with the Department for Education (DfE) for additional funding for both the medium and long-term future of the schools.
However, by May 31 this year, North Tyneside Council said it was unlikely the situation would be resolved before the General Election, although talks were ongoing with the DfE.
Freshly returned Tynemouth MP, Sir Alan Campbell said: “Rachel Reeves has been really clear about how tough the economic situation is and we will not commit to spending we cannot afford. However, I will be making the case that we need to get our schools sorted out.
“We need to address the issue of buildings that are not fit for purpose. I will be making that case strongly but we need to make clear that there is no magic money tree.”
Fellow Labour MP, and then shadow schools secretary, Catherine McKinnell had already called on the Conservative government to find a solution for the impacted schools.
Back in February, Catherine Mckinell MP said: “After over a decade of neglect, this crisis is another example of a Conservative government that simply does not prioritise children or their education. By driving economic growth, Labour governments have always invested in our children’s futures, it’ll fall to the next Labour government to do so again.”