Southcote Secondary Schools excellent progress

I was pleased to be present at Prospect School for the visit of Ed Balls, Minister for Education and Children's Services to see first hand the excellent new facilities at the school that caters for vocational qualifications and gives pupils throughout West Reading major opportunities for careers in IT, Media, Motor mechanics and hairdressing.

Ed Balls visited to celebrate two successes of Prospect School and its partnership with Reading Borough Council. Firstly to celebrate the successful OFSTED that Prospect had of an overall Judgement of GOOD with OUTSTANDING features in Curriculum, Learning and Progress and Special Needs assistance. I would like to congratulate the Head Teacher of Prospect School, Deborah Ajose, who has shown great leadership and motivation to raise standards throughout the school and give pupils good opportunities to progress in academic and vocational qualifications.

The second success is the figures of pupils of not being in Education, Employment or Training falling from 8% to 5.9%, going from one of the highest in the South East to the lowest. The partnership of National Government funding schemes to assist young people who are unemployed, local businesses and Reading Borough Council, working with schools, colleges and various sectors throughout Reading have successfully put together a robust programme to assist young people. Many have in the past criticised the council for not doing enough to help young people get off the scrap heap of unemployment. I hope they can join with me in congratulating a good partnership assisting young people, giving them hope at a difficult time in the economy. Ed Balls was pleased to hear Reading leading the way in employment, education and training prospects improving for young people.