Improving opportunties for people through education is one of the the
top priorities for the new Government, and on Monday we debated and
voted on one of the key measures from our manifesto. This was the
Academies Bill which will give people powers to set up new schools,
and give more powers to existing schools over how they are run. We
believe that these reforms will give teachers and Headteachers more of
a say in how and what they teach, and parents and students more of a
choice in type and style of education they receive.
We are fortunate in our area to already have a diversity of good
schools and on Friday last week I was glad to take up the invitation
from Principal Sonnette Schwartz to visit Brockhill Park. Brockhill is
a creative school with a specialism in the performing arts. As well as
meeting some of the staff and students, I was fortunate to see an
excellent display from some of the schools talented dancers.
Brockhill Park has also, for many years, had a farm attached to the
school and offered courses in animal care and agriculture, and later
in the day I saw some of the results of their work at the Kent Show,
at the Detling showground. The school had won awards for its pigs,
chickens and cows, and they were exhibiting alongside farmers from
across the constituency. The Kent Show, under the Chairmanship of
Brabourne based farmer, George Jessel, remains a great annual
presentation of the excellent work of our farmers across the year, and
reminder of the important relationship between the countryside we live
in and near, and the quality of the food it produces.
Later on Friday evening, I saw more of our local creative talent, at
the summer exhibition of the Hythe Art Society in the Town Hall. The
exhibition was opened by local county councillor Chris Capon and
includes an excellent display of paintings from members of the
society.
At this time of year there are also a great number of village events
across the constituency and last Saturday I dropped in at the fayre in
my own village, Elham. It was organised by the Play for Elham group
who have raised money to refurbish the recreation ground in the
village.
On Sunday it was my turn to get my hands dirty at the annual
Folkestone Sandcastle Competition, at the Sunny Sands Beach in
Folkestone. I was ably assisted by my wife Sarah, and our children
Claudia and Hugo in the construction of a traditional castle with
flags. However, we were outdone by some magnificent pieces of sand
sculpture including a lifeboat, gargoyle and a Spitfire. It was the
largest number of entrants since the compeition started four years
ago, and even included a team from Libya; who had a natural advantage
working in sand. This event is organised by local artist Shane Record
and all of the money raised goes to the Church Street Project, which
works with children across the Shepway District. Congratulations to
everyone involved in the competition.