I had a lovely time with a large group of students at Risedale today. They had prepared so many good questions that I ended up staying far longer than expected to get around them all!
I was asked about my support for the recent changes to exams. I fully support what the government has done to strengthen exam standards that have become devalued over time and don’t compare well internationally. I explained to the students that there was no point diluting what a strong grade stands for; that would not prepare them properly for when they go out into the real world, look for jobs and compete with students from across the globe.
Risedale School is located in the Garrison so a particular feature of the school is that it educates a lot of Forces Children. I spoke to these pupils about their experience moving schools on such a regular basis and what that meant for their social integration and also for their studies. It was heartening to hear how resilient they were to the disruptions they had to deal with and how the school helped. The visit reminded me that when we think about the sacrifice of our Armed Forces we often forget about the sacrifice also made by their families to support them in their work.
I am proud that this Government introduced the Service Pupil Premium which gives local schools an extra £300 for every student who has, had or lost a parent in the Armed Forces. That money can be used to fund additional pastoral or educational programmes for Forces children, helping them manage difficult transitions. Parents should make sure they inform their children’s school about their status so the school receives the funds, and also ask the school how they use the extra money.