Hull MP campaigns to save Newland School for Girls

Hull North MP Diana Johnson today called for Hull City Council to keep and improve Newland School for Girls at its current site.

In a written submission to Hull City Council's Building Schools for the Future (BSF) consultation exercise, the MP rejected the two options proposed by Hull City Council of either closing the school at its present location and building a replacement school in the city centre; or of renovating or rebuilding the school at its current site, with reductions in its pupil numbers and a federation arrangement with a boys' school.

The Hull North MP has instead proposed a third option of investing in improving facilities at Newland School for Girls at its current site, without federation with another school.

A Council consultation meeting is taking place at the school this evening (31 January).

Diana Johnson MP said: "It is great news that the Government is investing in the largest programme to improve Hull's secondary school buildings in decades. Now we must ensure that this taxpayers' money is invested to the maximum effect in further improving education standards.

"With the Council needing to reduce the number of secondary school places over the next few years, it would be unwise to make these reductions at the more successful and popular of our local schools, of which one is Newland School for Girls.

"In its own policy statements, Hull City Council states that it is committed to diversity in schools. In that case, the Council should support my proposal to improve Newland School for Girls as its current site and keep open the choice of single sex education in Hull."

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