Mp welcomes massive boost to yeovil schools

Yeovil MP David Laws has today welcomed the news that Westfield School in Yeovil and Preston School in Yeovil have successfully been granted Specialist School status by the Government. The two Yeovil schools were 2 of just 160 schools nationwide to be awarded the designation in an announcement by the Government on 4 July.

Preston School becomes a Business & Enterprise College and Westfield Community School becomes a Science College.

David Laws said:

“This is fantastic news and it represents a massive boost to education in Yeovil – well done to both Preston & Westfield Schools!

“Specialist School status will bring some £1.2 million extra into schools in Yeovil over the next four years and will, I hope, help to drive up standards.

“This is not only a boost to Westfield School and Preston School themselves but will also help the local primary schools in Yeovil.

“I am writing to both schools today to congratulate them on their immense achievement. It is rare to be granted Specialist Status on a first application, and this emphasises what excellent quality these two bids were.

“Well done to all those people at both schools who worked on these bids – not least head teachers Reg Jones and Marguerite Jackson. I also want to thank local businesses which supported these bids with £100,000 of sponsorship pledges – not least Alan Johnston of Westland who chaired the fundraising committee and so arranged generous financial support from Westland itself.

“Today’s announcement is good news for the schools and good news for our town – the extra money should help to improve results, increase educational opportunities and help provide the right local skills to attract innovative businesses to our area.

“This is a good day for Yeovil.”

Category: Constituency News