Chris Loder, the MP for West Dorset and former pupil of the school has welcomed the announcement that The Gryphon School in Sherborne has been selected as one of the latest 239 schools that will be substantially refurbished with temporary classrooms being replaced as part of the fourth round of the Government’s School Rebuilding Programme.
The programme will provide the funding to transform 500 schools across England, delivering on the Government’s commitment to level up opportunity around the country by giving every child access to the best classrooms, wherever they go to school.
The announcement comes after months of campaigning by the MP to get The Gryphon School prioritised for its dilapidated ‘temporary’ classrooms to be rebuilt.
Chris said; “I am very pleased that today our hard work on this campaign has been rewarded with a successful funding bid which will finally deliver the investment that the school requires to replace the ‘temporary’ classrooms which I was schooled in 25 years ago.”
Chris has persistently asked ministers in the House of Commons, as recently as last month, and has been relentlessly campaigned for the Government to ensure the Gryphon’s classrooms are given the overhaul they need.
Staff and Governors at The Gryphon School were delighted to hear from the Department for Education that its temporary classrooms will be part of the Governments School Rebuilding Programme next year.
Nicki Edwards, Headteacher, said “ this is wonderful news and comes at the end of a great year for the Gryphon with our best ever exam results and our excellent SIAMS inspection. Our students and staff work hard everyday and deserve to have the best facilities to work in - replacing our 25 year old “temporary” classrooms will make such a difference.”
Jo Mears, Chair of Governors, said “we would like to pay special tribute to our MP, Chris Loder who is an ex-student of The Gryphon. Chris has been a tremendous advocate for our bid. His determination to support us has made a real difference - he has encouraged us to be persistent over that past 3 years and has kept our cause in the spotlight in parliament. His old school is very grateful to him!”
