Published: Thursday, 4th February, 2010 5:00pm

Minister tours £3.5m learning centre

by Alex Gore

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EDUCATION minister Ed Balls was shown around a £3.5m vocational learning centre today (Thursday) and underlined Labour's pledge to keep school leavers out of unemployment.

The schools secretary was given a guided tour of the Loddon Building at Prospect School, Tilehurst, before being thrust in front of cameras at the centre's TV studio for an interview with 15-year-old media diploma student, Catherine Harbor.

Mr Balls also looked at the building's car workshop, where pupils were getting hands-on mechanical experience, and said that such vocational skills are valuable for youngsters when they come to move into employment.

After completing his tour of the Government-funded centre, the minister said: "We have all the ingredients for success here in one building."

Mr Balls reaffirmed the Government's pledge to guarantee a place in school, college or training for all leavers and said: "We are saying keep the money going into education this year and lets keep it flowing but our political opponents say we want to cut spending this year.

"There would be no guarantee to school leavers under the Tories. These are big choices for Reading and the future of our country."

Mr Balls was joined on the tour by headteacher Deborah Ajose, Reading Borough Council leader Jo Lovelock and Labour's parliamentary hopefuls Naz Sarkar and Anneliese Dodds.

Reading West candidate, Mr Sarkar, whose Year 11 students at Denefield School have been using the Loddon Building, said: "This is an absolutely fantastic facility. It's great that a Labour Government is willing to invest more than £3m in something like this."

Mrs Ajose added: "I was particularly pleased with how Mr Balls spent time talking to students, he showed a genuine interest. We have been running all these courses for five years but its unimaginable the difference these specialist classrooms have made."

Motor Vehicle BTEC student, Ryan Doyle, 15, said: "It's the best lesson I do. Being able to do the practical work makes all the difference."

Ryan's teacher, Rick Legate, added: "They love being in here and because they enjoy it so much they pay more attention when we are back in the classroom learning the theory.

"It also improves their literary and numeracy skills and gives them a better understanding of the importance of subjects such as English and Maths."

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