A Message from the Leader of Thurrock Council

These last two weeks, thousands of young people across Thurrock have received their exam results and are taking their next steps into further education, training or employment. I want to congratulate every student for their hard work, determination and resilience. I know this can be a worrying time, but it is also a time to reflect on the hard work that I am sure everyone has put in as students worked towards their exams.

Whether you achieve the grades you hoped for, exceed your expectations, or find yourself considering a different path, you should be proud of what you have accomplished. Success is not defined by a single set of results, but by the effort, ambition and character you develop along the way. For anyone not sure about their next steps, I recommend our fantastic Inspire Youth Hub. They have the expertise and knowledge to offer the best advice about next steps, whatever your exam results are.

We are fortunate to have many excellent schools and colleges serving our communities. I grew up in Thurrock during the 1980s and 1990s and was fortunate to attend a decent Secondary School but good schools offering strong classroom discipline and a consistency of quality teaching were not widely available across Thurrock back then. Now, more than 80% of schools in Thurrock are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, and educational achievement in the borough has improved significantly over recent years. The growth of academy trusts, alongside the work of teachers, support staff, governors and families, has helped raise standards and create opportunities for young people across Thurrock. The improvement has been noticeable, I spent a sizeable part of my career teaching in higher education institutions and I have been impressed with the improvements I have seen in our schools since I was a pupil.

Education remains central to the future of the borough. We want every child and young person, regardless of background, to have access to the skills, support and opportunities they need to succeed.

Thurrock benefits from a wide range of post-16 options, including sixth-form provision, apprenticeships and further education through not only our local colleges but also the many excellent opportunities available through apprenticeships with local businesses to train on the job for a skilled profession and rewarding career. As well ensuring that we, as a Local Authority, adopt a laser-like focus on attracting high value jobs into our Borough by encouraging global firms such as Google and other tech giants to establish large-scale operations here.

As we continue to build a stronger future for the borough, investing in young people will remain one of our highest priorities. The educational success of our future generations will determine the success of our Borough overall. Judging by this year's solid exam results the future of our Borough looks to be in safe hands.