Dr Luke Evans, Member of Parliament for Hinckley and Bosworth, has spoken in Parliament about concerns shared with him by Battling Brook Primary School over the state of two classrooms and the Government’s rejection of a funding application.
Earlier this year, the GP-turned-MP met with the headteacher of Battling Brook Primary School in Hinckley, Mrs Mathie, to see the two classrooms which have fallen into disrepair and are no longer fit for use. Leaks and mould meant they needed to be closed, and the school has since set about trying to urgently get the problem resolved.
Battling Brook enlisted the help of Dr Evans, as the local MP, to raise the issue with the Department of Education and help with the application.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Dr Evans said Battling Brook’s application for the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) had been turned down following, in part, a delay in the Condition Data Collection (CDC).
Following his question, Minister Morgan agreed to meet with Dr Evans to discuss the school’s application for funding and said the Department for Education would be able to provide direct advice and support to Battling Brook.
Speaking in the House of Commons Dr Luke Evans, Member of Parliament for Hinckley and Bosworth, said “I would like to draw the Minister’s attention to the process of getting some of the funding. Battling Brook is a small primary school in the heart of Hinckley. It's well-loved, but it's had problems with two of its classrooms having damp and falling into disrepair, so they can't use it.
“They've applied for the CIF but have had it declined. They feel that goalposts have been shifted. There was a delay in the CDC report by six months, so they were marked down all culminating in them not getting the funding that they need.
“Will the Minister look at this case and meet with me so that I can go back to Battling Brook to make sure they get the funding so they can open their classrooms in September again for the primary pupils of Hinckley?”
In response Stephen Morgan MP, Minister for Early Education, said “I thank the Member for Hinckley and Bosworth for his question. He has not been shy to lobby me on these issues. I'd be very happy to meet with him further.
“He will know that the Department does provide advice and support on a case-by-case basis. I'm very happy to discuss these issues with him further.”
Speaking afterwards, Dr Evans added “When I visited Battling Brook Primary School earlier this year, Mrs Mathie and the Governors shared concerns with me about two of the classrooms which have fallen into disrepair and are no longer fit for use.
“The team at Battling Brook worked hard on their application for the Condition Improvement Fund, which has since been turned down following a delay that was outside of the school's control. When red tape and failings beyond the control of the school stop vital progress, this just doesn’t sit right. I want to help get the school the support and funding it needs to get the classrooms reopened so they can be there for the pupils.
“I will be meeting with the Schools Minister and making the case to the Government for funding, while providing Battling Brook with my full support in navigating the processes to ensure that the much-needed improvements aren’t stopped simply because ‘computer says no’.”
