The Secretary of State for Education visited the Isle of Wight last week (13 October) to learn more about what’s happening in the Island’s education system.
To start her visit, Gillian Keegan visited Freshwater and Yarmouth C of E Primary School alongside Island MP Bob Seely where she was welcomed by Head Teacher Elizabeth Grainger.
The Education Secretary engaged in a question-and-answer session with pupils from years five and six and was taken on a tour of the new £4.5 million school building, which opened earlier this year.
Following a quick lunch at the Garlic Farm with members of the Isle of Wight Conservative Association, the Education Secretary travelled to Whippingham to meet with staff and students from the Centre of Excellence for Composites, Advanced Manufacturing and Marine (CECAMM).
Mrs Keegan was greeted by Isle of Wight College Principal, Ros Parker, and toured the facility where she met with T Level students and apprentices.
T Levels are two-year courses, brought in by the government in 2020, to help prepare students for entry into skilled employment or apprenticeships.
Summing up the visit, MP Bob Seely said: “I would like to thank the Secretary of State for visiting the Island and seeing the amazing work being done in our schools and colleges.
“Both Gillian and I are very keen on apprenticeships. I think they are a great way forward for our young people because they can offer good solid careers at the end of the training. It also means we retain talented young people on the Island instead of losing them to the mainland.
“I’m working with GKN and others to make sure that we have regular career fairs on the Island where our young people can find out more.”
