Tuesday 26 March 2013

Stephen Metcalfe MP and CCllr John Schofield welcome Lee Chapel Primary expansion plans


Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, has welcomed the news that Essex County Council (ECC) has granted Lee Chapel Primary School the opportunity to expand their premises.

Mr Metcalfe and Essex County Councillor John Schofield have been lobbying ECC for some time to allow the expansion to take place and are said to be delighted with the decision. The new facilities will allow Lee Chapel to increase their capacity with an additional form of entry.

In their last Ofsted report, Lee Chapel Primary School achieved Outstanding status with Ofsted praising both the standard of teaching and the excellent progress made by pupils throughout their time at the school.

Mr Metcalfe, who is known for his staunch commitment to promoting education throughout South Basildon and East Thurrock, commented: “This really is fantastic news for both the school and for children in the local area. Lee Chapel sets extremely high standards and this is exactly what we need from our schools.”

“The expansion will enable even more children to benefit from the outstanding education Lee Chapel provides and I very much look forward to seeing the finished result. In the meantime, I will of course be doing all I can to support the staff and students as the expansion process unfolds.”

John Schofield, County Councillor for Basildon Westley Heights who works hard to support improvements for his area said: "After having personally campaigned for over seven years on this issue I am thrilled that Essex County Council has agreed to release The Knares offices, the previous infant school premises, to enable the current primary school to expand. It is an outstanding school recently having obtained government teaching accreditation. This will be a stimulus for educational improvement across the whole of Basildon".