Welcome to this week's newsletter.
Annoyingly, I have just had to spend a week in hospital with complications with my ankle fracture recovery. It seems I may need another operation in January so I must ask for further patience. It has been a frustrating setback as I had started getting out and about again locally as you know I like to do!
Including missing meeting Father Christmas for the announcement of my Christmas Card Competition Winner! A big thank you to all who participated! The quality of designs was outstanding, making the voting a close race. A heartfelt congratulations to Willow from Beechwood Primary School for clinching the top spot with her Christmas Tree design. A special thanks to Daniel Dunning-Cole and Scott Dunning from the Charterhouse Group for their generous sponsorship for prizes for the winning school.
The latest OECD data reveals that education in England stands among the world's finest. Our 15-year-old students have not only surpassed the OECD average but have also outshone countries like Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and Norway in reading, maths, and science. This remarkable improvement, ranking 13th, 11th, and 13th respectively, reflects the dedication of our teachers and the hard work of our students. But it also demonstrates that the decisions led by Michael Gove to focus on standards and outcomes has made a difference. Labour led Wales and SNP led Scotland have not come close to matching the improvement we've seen.
There has been lots of discussion about the plan to send people crossing the channel in small boats to Rwanda. I continue to fully support the scheme. All of these people are coming from France. No matter how much I might sympathise with their personal circumstances, our help for refugees should not be decided by who can afford to pay people smugglers. That is wrong. Safe and legal routes will not solve this-even more people would come. If we stop the small boat crossings then we can do the safe and legal routes. I think the new agreement with Rwanda takes all necessary steps to protect people we transfer there and I want Parliament to now support implementing it. I share the frustration people have with how long this is taking. But we remain the only Party that even wants to stop it at all.
This week, the Government committed to implementing all recommendations from Karen Carney's review into women's football. This includes propelling women's football into new heights through professionalisation, elevated standards, enhanced health provisions, and support systems. The success of the lionesses has paved the way, and with these improvements, we eagerly anticipate seeing women's football achieve even greater success.
Finally, I want to extend warm wishes to everyone celebrating Chanukah. In these challenging times, the unfortunate rise in anti-Semitism is deeply concerning. However, I hope the spirit of Chanukah brings joy and light to all.
Have a great weekend.
Christmas Card Competition Winner Announced
England's Education Among the Best in the World
Improving Women's Football
Happy Chanukah
Traffic Report
Christmas Card Competition Winner Announced
Very sorry to not meet Santa myself for the announcement, but unfortunately, complications with my ankle fracture recovery landed me in hospital for a week!
Thank you to everyone who sent in entries for this years Christmas Card Competition and who voted for their favourite in the final. Everyone who sent in an entry will be getting a certificate. The quality of designs this year was very high, and the voting was very close.
But, the people have spoken and we have a winner!
So congratulations to Willow, from Beechwood Primary School, who came first with her Christmas Tree design!
A special well done also to Sahiru of Leighton Academy and Paizley of Monks Coppenhall Academy who were runners up in 2nd and 3rd.
Thank you to Daniel Dunning-Cole and Scott Dunning from the Charterhouse Group for sponsoring the competition this year. Thanks to their generosity, we are able to give creative arts prizes for the winning school and two runners up and we will also be working with Crewe FC to sell the cards to raise money for The Wishing Well Project.
Winner
2nd Place
3rd Place
England's Education Among the Best in the World
It is fantastic news that the latest OECD data shows that education in England is among the best in the world. Our students at age 15 have ranked 13th, 11th and 13th in reading, maths and science, compared to 25th, 27th and 16th in 2009.
This is above the OECD average and higher than countries such as Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Norway. Huge credit to all the teachers and students for what they have achieved.
It is never easy to achieve big improvements, but when it comes to children's education, the focus on outcomes, standards and improvement since 2010 has undeniably delivered.
Improving Women's Football
I have been able to speak with lots of young female footballer players over the last few year and it was great to invite players from Crewe FC down to Parliament last year.
Fantastic news that the Government has committed to implement all of the recommendations from Karen Carney's review into improving women's football. In just a few years, particularly following the success of the lionesses, more and more women and girls have taken up the sport.
This review includes recommendations to help women's football reach it's potential, through full professionalisation of the Women's Super League and Championships, raising minimum operating standards, improving physical and mental health provision, elite training facilities for players and improving parental care packages and support for players leaving the game.
I look forward to seeing these recommendations implemented and for women's football to reach new levels of success!
Happy Chanukah
Happy Chanukah, to all those celebrating enjoy!
We are in trying times and I've been deeply disturbed by the rise in anti-semitism across the world, in our universities and on our streets in Britain.
I'm wishing everyone well in this festival of lights.
Traffic Report
Mill Lane, Oakhanger - Until 15th July 2024
Manor Way, Crewe - Until 9th February 2024
Goddard Street, Crewe - 11th December until 3rd January
Elizabeth Street, Crewe - 12th December
Weaver Road, Nantwich - 11th December until 15th December