For far too long, young people in deprived areas missed out on a good quality education.  That is why education was – and remains – the top priority of the Labour Government. 

We can certainly have arguments about whether places like Stockport (or even areas within Stockport, like Reddish) get a fair share of the extra funding, but it is often easily forgotten that just over a decade ago, class sizes of 30 or less in our primary schools were largely unheard of;

(Above) Andrew Gwynne MP with Schools Sectretary of State Ed Balls, local Councillors and school governor, Andy Verdeille at Reddish Vale Technology College.

some schools still had outside toilets; the fabric of school buildings, particularly primary schools, was extremely poor; and good quality nursery provision was more a privilege than a right.

From Sure Start through to reducing class sizes; and the National Grid for Learning, which provided computers and IT equipment in schools to the massive capital investment to eventually rebuild or renew all our schools, the Labour Government has invested in education as it said it would, and at the levels it promised. 

But it has also reformed the system, with exciting new developments in the secondary sector underway here in Stockport.  Last month, I was proud to welcome Ed Balls, the Secretary of State for Schools, Children and Families to Reddish.  He was in town to give his support to Reddish Vale Technology College and their plans to become one of the government’s new ‘Trust schools’. 

Trust schools are given the freedom to innovate and involve new partners in delivering education to children, and whilst they still operate under the framework of the Local Education Authority, the extra freedoms given to Trust schools will enable them to be much more creative about how education is delivered in the school.

I know that Ed Balls (as a Co-op sponsored Labour MP) was particularly interested in the unique model being proposed by Reddish Vale to become a Co-operative Trust, with the involvement of the Co-op Group and the Co-op College as key external partners. Similarly, the involvement of Stockport College and the local universities, I hope, will raise the aspiration of more young people to further their education post 16.

Speaking to Ed back at the House of Commons, I know he was extremely impressed with what he saw at Reddish Vale – including the farm, the excellent drama facilities and the technology suite. It is certainly an exciting time for the school and he and I, both wish Reddish Vale well as they prepare for their new status - building on their best-ever exam results - to provide even better educational opportunities to young people in Reddish and Stockport.

This article was written for the Stockport Express and Times