Education

New Blackmore Vale, July 9, 2021 Education Bryanston merging with neighbours

Bryanston is to merge with Knighton House from September, after it bought the land and buildings of the neighbouring prep and preprep campus last year. A spokesman said the merger of the two schools, covering provision from age three to 18, will help to ensure both are ‘well placed to rise to the new challenges and constantly evolving priorities within the world of education with confidence’. A new headmaster has been appointed at Knighton House and arrangements are being made for an experienced figure from the prep school sector to join the governing body of Bryanston. “This is an exciting and significant development for both schools,” said Julian Greenhill, chairman of Bryanston governors. “As next door neighbours, Bryanston and Knighton House have enjoyed a close and productive relationship over many decades. “The decision to proceed with a merger is a logical and forward-looking step that will enrich the experience and deliver significant benefits for all pupils.” Knighton House will be renamed Bryanston Knighton House and Will Lockett, a former housemaster at Bryanston, has been appointed its new headmaster. He has been head at Abberley Hall prep in Worcestershire for the past six years, where he played an instrumental role in forging a new strategic relationship with Malvern College. “Will’s knowledge and experience of running a highly regarded prep school and his deep familiarity with Bryanston will provide Bryanston Knighton House with exactly the right insight and leadership as it enters an exciting new era,” says Iain Weatherby, current cochairman of governors at Knighton House. “The merger with Bryanston will give added impetus to the school’s move to a coeducation structure and provide the level of agility and resource that a progressive prep school requires in an increasingly demanding education environment.” Knighton House has recently celebrated its 70th anniversary and its 30-acre site in Durweston lies next to Bryanston’s 400-acre campus. Iain Weatherby and Paul Slight, the current cochairs of the Knighton House governing body, will continue to be involved as part of the Transition Team to support the new merger. In due course, Bryanston’s governors will assume responsibility for the school and a new governor will be appointed to ensure the specific requirements of a pre-prep and prep school are taken into full account. Dayto-day management of the prep school will then be the responsibility of Will Lockett and his senior staff who will report to Bryanston Headmaster, Mark Mortimer. Mr Mortimer said: “We are equally determined to consolidate our close and long-standing relationships with other prep schools across the region as part of a supportive and mutually beneficial network of private and state schools.”

MERGER: Mark Mortimer, headmaster of Bryanston, and Will Lockett, the new headmaster of Bryanston Knighton House

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MP’s turn-up for the book

Local MP Dr Andrew Murrison visited Chilmark Fonthill Bishop CofE Primary – and was treated to a tour by members of the school council. Pupils showed him the school’s new library, which was refurbished last year. Dr Murrison told them he likes historical fiction and also enjoys JK Rowling’s books. They asked him about his career as a surgeon in the Royal Navy and were interested to hear about his deployment during the 2003 Gulf War, and his work during the pandemic. As a reward, the council gave Dr Murrison a ‘golden coin’ to spend in the school’s new book vending machine. Spoilt for choice he chose a copy of Enid Blyton’s New Class at Malory Towers.

New Blackmore Vale, July 9, 2021 MPs’ round-up I’m so proud of our courageous armed forces

I’m proud to support the courageous people of our armed forces, who work year-round to keep us safe and, over the past year, have also provided vital support to frontline healthcare teams against the threat of the pandemic. In peacetime, it’s all too easy to forget just how big a debt of gratitude we owe to our service personnel and veterans and Armed Forces Day serves as a fitting reminder. I’m particularly proud that so many Yeoviltonbased personnel are able to call Wincanton home. Of course, Rome wasn’t built in a day and the professionalism and skill of our military personnel is the culmination of years of training, much of which takes place in nearby Warminster. Achieving resilience is an iterative, slowburn project that requires foresight, planning and vision. As with the military, this is certainly true when it comes to the local economy and the future prosperity of Somerset. Without connectivity investments now, we cannot pass on economic resilience and prosperity to future generations in Somerset. This is why I spoke in Parliament the other day, making the case for levelling-up support in Somerton and Frome to sort out our broadband, dual the A303 and improve rail connectivity. It’s vital that Somerset’s economic priorities are vocalised, so I metwith the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, a couple of weeks ago. I made the case for those who have been excluded from coronavirus support and the self-employed, as well as highlighting the importance of the Universal Credit uplift. I also discussed the foreign aid cut and music festival insurance.All in all, it was a very helpful meeting and one which I hope will prove productive in the coming weeks. The wedding industry has also been occupying my thoughts and efforts recently. I’m glad that since 21st June there has been greater scope for couples wishing to tie the knot, but the industry is still being held back and so many couples have been in touch to say how anxious and frustrated they are that their wedding has been delayed or cancelled. We have some wonderful wedding venues here in Somerton and Frome – like Holbrook Manor near Wincanton – and I remain acutely aware that many of the things that couples would expect to do at their weddings are still not allowed. I will continue to push for greater freedoms here. The Blackmore Vale has so much promise and potential to unleash. But we must have the tools we need. The South West mustn’t be left behind.

Somerton & Frome MP David Warburton

Ensuring aid is affordable and well-spent

Last week the Commons debated the UK’s international aid policy and the temporary drop in our Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) proposed by ministers. As a former joint minister for DFID and the Foreign Office, I understand what potential damage this drop in funding will do to UK-funded NGOs and people living unimaginably tough lives who rely on assistance and development aid. However, the UK economy that makes our generous aid budget possible has just taken its biggest hit for 300 years. Government has been compelled to shell out vast sums it does not have to deal with the crisis. As a former minister I know that government is about trade-offs and hard choices that have real life consequences. One Labour MP who seemingly hadn’t been listening intervened on my speech on Wednesday to ask whether I took my share of responsibility for those consequences. Yes, of course, but the corollary to her point is that we might also take responsibility for a commitment to UK aid, high by any international standards, that has meant we have met our aid 0.7% of GNI target in every year since 2013. Given that spending money we don’t have simply isn’t sustainable, I will support the temporary cut in aid from 0.7 to 0.5% but only for one year as promised by ministers particularly as it seems the economy will return to pre pandemic levels within 12 months, much sooner than seemed possible until recently. In developing my approach, I’ve reflected on the opposition to our aid budget that I often get on the doorstep and on recent polling that suggests 77% of the public agree on the need to temporarily cut the aid budget given the circumstances. Aid means different things to different people. The British Foreign Policy Group’s most recent survey shows this, with some calling it a moral duty and others highlighting the diplomatic benefits of aid. For me what matters is what works. There is no virtue in disbursing aid if it does no good or is wasted. I note the effectiveness of UK aid has improved substantially over the past decade, there is no doubt about that. However, I’m dismayed by the occasional story of UK funds being used for projects that can be presented by the media as trivial or wasteful. Sadly they tarnish the whole international development programme. I made this point on Wednesday. Ronald Regan’s Secretary of State George Schultz was an exponent of aid as a means of inculcating values and cementing international relations. US aid programmes in Uganda, Ethiopia/Tigray, and Mozambique were highly successful, exemplars in the importance of values-based foreign policy. In the Cold War era of great power politics, they distinguished America from the Soviets and helped to keep jurisdictions from the Kremlin’s maw. The government’s Integrated Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy Review spoke of promoting prosperity, values, and influence. The merging of the FCO with DFID was also designed to connect humanitarian assistance with the UK’s wider interests. If you’re confident about your values that should not be a problem and it helps convince a sceptical public that aid is well spent and in their interests.

MP for South West Wiltshire Dr Andrew Murrison

New Blackmore Vale, July 9, 2021 MPs’ round-up So many good things around my constituency

Let me deal with the ‘elephant in the room’ first. I know, because constituents have told me how let down they felt and feel by Matt Hancock’s behaviour. They make no comment on his private life per se but are annoyed that whereas they constrained their private lives in order to meet the requirements of covid restrictions, he did not. He realised that and resigned. It has always been clear to me that while politicians cannot and should not be replica saints; those who make the rules cannot then go on to break them without paying a price. All I want to say to those who have followed the rules regardless of personal and family inconvenience: you did, and are doing, the right thing. One of the great joys of being an MP is to visit interesting things in your constituency. Covid meant the pause button had to be pressed but things are now getting back to normal. I had a really uplifting visit to Wyke Primary School in Gillingham where I, as always and much to the tolerance of the teachers, took over several lessons to have a chat with the children and answer their excellent, impromptu questions. I had my first face-to-face meeting with the NFU and local farmers to discuss agricultural, environmental and trade policies. It was great to be back ‘on farm’ and to meet and chat properly again. North Dorset is overrun with wonderful businesses doing great things. They lurk in out of the way business parks or in converted farm buildings. Small operators doing big things and doing them well. I’ve enjoyed helping local charcoal producer The Dorset Charcoal Company (excellent product by the way) make the case to Ministers regarding the need for greater sustainability information on charcoal products – do please check yours this barbecue season. Likewise, a wonderful firm in Stalbridge making fish bait which they export to a growing market but needing advice to meet new Brexit trading requirements. Again, a meeting with the minister was arranged and a good session held. Or take the Real Cure, based near Shaftesbury, which has recently expanded and producing locally sourced and top quality charcuterie serving many leading eateries and a growing client base. A fascinating visit to a developing solar farm near Spetisbury which has presold all the electricity it will generate to the City of London to ensure its energy use is entirely renewable. North Dorset providing to the City! Or take my visit to Guarantee Laundries based in Stalbridge where an enthusiastic and skilled workforce provide the world benchmarking linen services to leading hotels such as Cliveden and Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons owned by Raymond Blanc superseded only by the company also serving our own and very excellent Plumber Manor near Sturminster Newton. It has been great to hear the stories of these business women and men, and be excited by their future plans.

MP for North Dorset Simon Hoare

So proud of the progress made, but still a way to go

One of the most important parts of our history in West Dorset, of which we should be very proud, is that Alan Turing, the genius behind the enigma solving computer during the second world war was educated here. Two weeks ago, a bust of Alan Turing was unveiled at Sherborne School to mark what would have been his 109th birthday. Alan Turing was one of those people who pushed the boundaries: he was unconventional, he challenged theories, wrote his own and cracked the enigma code, enabling us to thwart the enemy in the Second World War. But it is less well known that he was gay when being so was a criminal offence. To avoid prison, he accepted the it took until 2013 for his name to be cleared after The Queen gave him a posthumous pardon. My partner and I were very proud to be part of the event to mark Alan Turing’s life. It was a very powerful statement as to how the country has evolved so much since then. In other news, the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act came into force at the end of last month: a momentous day for all of us who care so deeply about animals and their wellbeing. But there is still much more work to do in Parliament to progress my Animal Welfare Plan. The Government’s programme legislation is forthcoming to the House of Commons and I am pleased once more, that the Government has committed to a ban on live animal exports,

MP for West Dorset Chris Loder

punishment of chemical castration with hormone therapy. But the trauma led him to take his own life shortly after. It is of great shame that one of our war heroes was treated in this way, simply because he was gay – especially considering that recognising animal sentience in law and to review non-stunned slaughter. The Government has also listened to my concerns over the prospect of a national park for Dorset and has removed it from its agenda this year. National parks have shown time and time again to increase house prices, decrease full time unemployment, and drive young people away. As we recover from coronavirus, it is my firm belief that a national park is not in our best interests at the moment. I do understand why some supported the idea, but while I disagree with such arguments, I will continue working to ensure the care of the Dorset countryside and securing investment especially for our Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.