Education Standards Minister praises Richmond Schools

11.29.17am GMT Mon 3rd Nov 2003

The Minister of State for School Standards, David Miliband has praised Richmond upon Thames schools for their highly successful academic year and the Local Education Authority for its tough stance on truancy.

This year local schools produced their best-ever results as the borough's pupils dramatically improved their performance.

Cllr Serge Lourie said; "I should like to congratulate the teachers and pupils for their excellent results. We believe that the secondary schools can and should rank with the primary schools in being the best in the country."

"These splendid results show what can be achieved by hard work on the part of dedicated students and teachers."

The Minister wrote; "This year's results in your borough were excellent. And I would like to pass on my congratulations to you and your colleagues as well as to the teachers and pupils in your schools.

"I am sure that this year's results are a reflection of the priority that you have placed on achieving higher standards over the last year, and you will no doubt have plans in place to build on that success in 2004."

The Minister also congratulated the Council for its successful efforts in combating truancy. The number of unauthorised absences has dropped, and the Minister says: "Better attendance is key to our fundamental aim of improving levels of attainment for all pupils and it is clear that the priority attached to this through the hard work of schools and the Local Education Authority (LEA) is making a real difference to the numbers of children absent from school, especially where this is without good reason."

Cllr Bob King , the Liberal Democrat's education spokesman, said: "The schools and the education department have worked hard to reduce the level of absences and they are to be congratulated. I hope that the minister's kind words can be translated into support for our important Private Finance Initiative bid for £85 million to spend on our secondary schools."