Chris Mole MP today accompanied Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls MP around Stoke Park High School in Ipswich.

The Minister was in Ipswich to see first hand the products of a period of educational revolution taking place in the town.

The Government's Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme will invest £45 billion of capital funding nationwide over the next 15 years. Every single school in Ipswich will receive major work to make them centres of innovation fit for the 21st century.

Schools in South West Ipswich (including Stoke) will receive major investment during waves 4-6 of the programme - with each wave taking place every year and waves 1-3 already underway - whilst the North East region of Ipswich will benefit in waves 13-15.

Stoke Park is also a key member of the SWISS (South West Ipswich and South Suffolk Partnership). This proposes the construction of a state-of-the-art learning centre in Ipswich which would accommodate 2,200 14-19 year olds.

By pooling the resources of a number of existing schools around the Ipswich area the 'SWISS Centre' would be more sustainable, with the ability to provide a wider range of subjects (including a greater emphasis on vocational learning). This would ensure that the students of Ipswich will be better equipped when they go out into the wider world of work.

Chris said: "It was clear to see that Ed was extremely impressed with the fantastic work going on at Stoke Park and throughout Ipswich's schools.

"We are currently in a hugely exciting period for the town. Building Schools for the Future will go way beyond fixing leaking roofs of our schools - it will mean that every child in Ipswich is educated in a state-of-the-art school and receive the best opportunities."