Visit to Cornelius Vermuyden School 

Julian Ware-Lane, Labour's Parliamentary Candidate for Castle Point, was recently invited to visit The Cornelius Vermuyden School and Arts College on Canvey Island, where he was shown around by deputy head teacher Jim Barry.

 

Julian met pupils including head boy and girl Louis Beglan and Nikita Munt who talked enthusiastically about after school sports, dance, revision classes, homework club, arts activities and the duke of Edinburgh Award.  

"I was very impressed with attitude of the children here, all of whom I spoke to were very positive about the school, its teachers and facilities" said Julian.

 

Jim Barry said: "The school continues to be over subscribed with a waiting list for year 7 in 2008".  He added: "With its best ever exam results last summer of 55% A*-C and exciting new courses in the Arts and in ICT the school's popularity increases year on year."

"It is obvious that a lot of Government money has been spent wisely here, with extra funding for extended schooling being particularly effective" said Julian, "and this benefits the community as a whole, here in Canvey, in Castle Point, and across all of Essex". "Schools have been transformed over the last decade, with state-of-the-art equipment everywhere. This school uses the latest technology to aid accomplished teaching staff deliver results - computers and interactive whiteboards making a real impact. This really is a twenty-first century school, looking forward in every way."

 

The school will be taking advantage of the 'Building Schools for the Future' initiative with the planned rebuilding of almost all of the school in three years time.

 

The school’s reputation for excellence, traditional values matched with high standards and effective pastoral care makes this a happy and purposeful school.

The Cornelius Vermuyden School and Arts College currently has 876 pupils, and over a hundred staff, with approximately 60 being teachers. 2006-07 saw the school achieve its best ever examination results.