Children are now back at school for the new academic year, and pupils will begin preparation for the next series of exams.

Last month nervous GCSE and A-level students found out whether their hard work and perseverance had paid off, and it was good to see so many pupils across Worcestershire not only meet their targets but exceed them too.

It was encouraging to hear that A-level results across the county have risen for the second year in a row, reflecting the efforts of pupils and their dedicated teaching staff, who consistently go above and beyond their roles to ensure pupils have the skills and qualifications they need.

It has been a pleasure to read the school press releases over the last few weeks highlighting the important progress so many schools have made with results and progression – helping to enable social mobility.

Whilst progressing to university is a great option for many, there are now more routes than ever into the workplace. Apprenticeships are one option, and their combination of on-the-job training, earning whilst learning and receiving a qualification makes it an attractive option.

The introduction of new T-Level qualifications from 2020 is also set to benefit students by allowing them to specialise in practical subjects straight after GCSEs, giving pupils expert industry placements as well as a qualification.

Of course, there must be the right level of funding to provide these opportunities, so I warmly welcome the £14 billion education funding boost recently announced by the Prime Minister.

This money will go to levelling-up funding for schools in Worcestershire as well as our further education and sixth form colleges.

I am especially pleased the Government has also pledged to meet the £4.5 billion requirement for teachers’ pensions from outside the education budget, meaning every penny of the extra £14 billion will go straight to school and delivering the best educational outcomes for our children.

It is a busy time in Parliament, but I will continue to liaise with school leaders locally to ensure Worcestershire pupils see the benefits of this welcomed cash boost.