This afternoon my team and I visited Upminster Infant and Junior Schools where we met executive head teacher, Miss Edgcombe. and Mr Hobson, Chief Executive of the Hornchurch Academy Trust, of which the schools became a member in September 2017.

I had arranged the visit as part of my aim to understand the priorities of the local teaching community, and to offer help in connecting their leadership teams to useful people in Westminster and the constituency. We discussed the cost pressures on the school due to its poor fabric and the fast-changing community that the school serves, which is not always reflected in the school's funding settlement. I also had the opportunity to attend the Year 6 enterprise fair in the school playground. 

It was a pleasure to visit the school on such a bright and sunny afternoon and we hope to work together as we roll out our school debating programme in September.