In recent years, behind the scenes, the school has been working incredibly hard to try to secure new premises or a significant investment in our existing ones.
Today we have found out that we are one of the 239 schools that have been announced nationally as part of the School Rebuilding Programme.
Needless to say, there is still a huge amount of work to be done and I’m sure there will be a lot of unknown challenges on the way – but this remains a landmark moment for UCC and the future of all the students in and around Penrith, Eden and the county.
The following press release is being sent out today’
Staff at Ullswater Community College are ending term on a high note after receiving some fantastic news! The school was overjoyed to be informed that UCC has been named by the Department for Education as one of just three schools in Cumbria in the latest round of the School Rebuilding Programme. Headteacher, Stephen Gilby, commented:
“This is fantastic news for UCC and the young people of Penrith and Eden. This multi-million-pound investment will have a profound, long-lasting impact on our students, staff and the local community. It will build on the significant progress the school has already made. As one of the most improved schools in the county, we’ll now be able to build on our recent successes and move further towards our ambition to be Best in County.
I’d like to thank those who have played a significant role in securing this opportunity for the school – Dr Neil Hudson, MP, who has worked tirelessly to raise the profile of the school and to represent the needs of our local community at Westminster; our colleagues at Cumbria County Council and all in the UCC community for their ongoing support.”
Dr Neil Hudson, MP said:
“…I really welcome the news that both Ullswater Community College and Samuel King’s School have been provisionally selected to benefit from the latest round of the School Rebuilding Programme. I have been supporting both these schools on number of key issues including redevelopment, and I am delighted that the Government has listened to me and is backing these fantastic schools to improve their facilities for the future. As I have been pushing in Parliament repeatedly, equality of opportunity for our young people in rural Cumbria is so pivotal to their life chances.”
Dan Barton, Assistant Director for Education and Skills commented; “This is very positive news and reflects much hard work behind the scenes by the schools and the council to make the case for investment. These developments will clearly be of enormous benefit to the educational experience of children in Penrith and Alston and we now await official confirmation of the value of the funding which has been allocated.”
Kind regards
Mr Gilby, and everyone at UCC