Chloe SmithMP for Norwich North
Chloe SmithChloe Smith, Member of Parliament for Norwich North, on Friday 15th February 2019, hosted a round table with local headteachers to discuss current challenges and opportunities for north Norwich schools.
Chloe invited all head teachers from within her constituency to join her for a roundtable conference so she could hear honest and direct feedback from them about issues affecting local schools and colleges, from infant age through to young adult including further education. The purpose of the meeting was for Chloe can gain a better understanding about what headteachers consider to be the challenges of running a school in Norwich, so that she can help schools improve, and support the provision of the best possible education for Norwich’s children. Chloe is committed to making sure issues and opportunities are heard in Parliament.
One of Chloe’s key priorities for Norwich North is to ensure the best start in life for Norwich children, and she is keen to work closely with local schools to support them in their work. She also chairs the Youth Board of the Norwich Opportunity Area.
Discussion during the roundtable was constructive and positive, focusing on issues that Chloe could help the schools address with relevant Government departments and Norfolk County Council; including pupil mental health, teacher recruitment, planning for new school places when new homes are being built, social mobility and the National Funding Formula.
Chloe commented: “I appreciated meeting with Norwich North headteachers for an honest and wide-ranging discussion of common challenges affecting local schools. Exploring these issues in detail and hearing how they affect the running of the school gives me the opportunity to discuss solutions with the Department for Education on behalf of head teachers.
“Maintaining strong links with local schools is an important part of my work, and I am always willing to listen to what our hard-working headteachers and teachers feel needs addressing. I’m very practical as a constituency MP and will always help where I can, to get the best for our community.”
Chloe has offered to host a follow-up meeting with the headteachers at the end of the year to discuss the responses she has received to the points she will be raising from this meeting.
