Our Schools

Village Schools

I am campaigning to ensure that village schools are properly supported and protected, recognising that short-term dips in pupil numbers should not determine their future, and that with the right backing they can continue to thrive at the centre of village life.

Village schools are at the heart of rural communities like ours across Stratford-on-Avon. More than just places of learning, they anchor village life, bring families together and help sustain a shared sense of identity. For many parents, the presence of a local primary school is central to the decision to live and raise their children in rural south Warwickshire. Small schools offer a nurturing environment where children are known as individuals, where strong relationships between staff and families can flourish, and where early support can make a lasting difference, particularly for those who need additional reassurance or tailored help.

I brought a debate on this issue to Parliament - please see my contribution in the video clip below.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Warwickshire continue to face unacceptable challenges. The current system is failing families, with insufficient school places, unreliable home-to-school transport, and significant delays in processing Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs). These issues are causing unnecessary stress and denying children the support they are entitled to.

I have raised this issue in Parliament on multiple occasions, and convene quarterly SEND forums with constituents to hear directly from families, carers and young people about the challenges they are experiencing, and to explore how we can drive improvements at both a local and national level. 

Click here for more information about my SEND campaign

To follow progress on this and other issues, please sign up to my newsletter here.

Transforming deaf children’s horizons through BSL in exams

I am working alongside dedicated constituents to campaign for British Sign Language to be introduced as a language option for examinations taken by deaf children at school.

I have written to the Secretary of State for Education to request a meeting on this issue - please see my letter here. I am pleased to say that the Minister for School Standards has agreed to a meeting, which will be held in March.