Jack Brereton MP has welcomed the news that Stoke-on-Trent will benefit from a new Alternative Provision (AP) free school in Bucknall, The Link Academy.
This comes after Jack Brereton MP, with the other two Stoke-on-Trent MPs, wrote to the Secretary of State for Education, Gillian Keegan MP, to urge her to give the go ahead for the city’s bid for a new AP free school.
Jack Brereton MP has been contacted by numerous constituents who are unable to get their child an appropriate school place to suit their needs. In line with national trends there is a significant increased demand in Stoke-on-Trent for AP/SEND places and, in some cases, children have been forced to wait months without any proper educational placement, which is hugely detrimental to the development of those children.
With the lack of place sufficiency, parents are relying on out of area and often poor-quality private provisions, additionally the City Council is seeing huge cost pressures on its high needs budget.
Jack Brereton MP was pleased to receive confirmation that the Secretary of State, Gillian Keegan MP, has approved the Stoke-on-Trent MPs’ request.
The Link Academy will offer specialist education for 120 pupils aged 10-16 and will help ease the pressure on mainstream schools and the huge demand for AP/SEND places. The new school will also offer peace of mind for parents with children who have advanced behavioural or SEND needs.
Jack Brereton, Member of Parliament for Stoke-on-Trent South said:
“It is fantastic to hear that the Secretary of State for Education has approved Stoke-on-Trent’s bid for a new Alternative Provision free school.
Several parents in my constituency have shared with me the difficulties they are experiencing finding a suitable place for their child, due to the lack of sufficient good quality AP provision locally. Also many mainstream schools have told me they are being forced to take children where they are not able to properly meet pupils needs.
I am pleased the new school will be opening which will help relieve pressure on local AP and SEND places as well helping drive up the quality of education in our city. The Link Academy will ensure pupils locally with advanced behavioural and SEND needs have access to the best quality education they deserve for them to learn and develop.
Secretary of State for Education, Gillian Keegan MP:
“The Government recognise how crucial it is to have the right school places for young people with AP/SEND. The free schools programme remains an important part of this Government’s plan to level up opportunity and has already successfully delivered greater choice, innovation, and higher educational standards.
The Stoke-on-Trent-MPs, including Jack Brereton, rightfully raised the importance of having a new AP Free School in their local area, and we are confident that The Link Academy will ease the pressure on parents and improve the standard of education for their children, in Stoke-on-Trent.”
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