Last week, I visited Dan Dean (Principal) and Terry Price (Chair of Governors) at Esher College. After really feeling the pinch of the public financial pressures in recent years, it was good to be able to meet up after the Chancellor's Spending Review, with news that the national base rate funding per student in colleges will be protected.

The Chancellor also opened up further opportunities for colleges like Esher College to gain more autonomy and gain extra money (from recovering the cost of VAT) through academy status.

Above all, it was a chance to celebrate the college's amazing results compared to other colleges and schools - including private ones - nationally. In terms of A Level passes, Esher College scores in the top 10 of all Sixth Form Colleges, and has a higher proportion of students going onto secure first class or upper second class degrees than the average pupil from private schools. It also has 9% more students gaining firsts from the Russell Group of universities than private schools. These are fantastic achievements we should celebrate.

Last Friday, I visited Krystyna Griffiths and her fabulous team at Downside Nursery, for their annual sportsday (pictured below). Many parents also joined the occasion, creating a wonderful atmosphere in the glorious sunshine. The children were fantastic - incredibly well-behaved, and very enthusiastic about the races! I also got the chance to catch up with Nifi Nima, the nursery's first apprentice, who has now completed her Level 2 in childcare development.

Last week, I visited Walton Oak School in Walton for the Top of the Class final. Organised by our brilliant Walton Rotary Club, it is an annual competition between Year 6 pupils at schools right across the borough. This year, 18 schools fought it out in several rounds, until we got down to the final two: Walton Oak versus St Lawrence CofE Junior School.

In the final, last Friday, Tony Stephens from Walton Rotary proved yet again a magisterial question-master - firm but fair - as the two teams contested 10 hard rounds, ranging from maths conundrums to trivia teasers. Both teams were superb, but eventually St Lawrence won. Congratulations to the winners (pictured below), runners-up, and Walton Rotary for organising such a great competition.

The Conservatives have a strong record on education over the last 5 years. We have enacted legislation to strengthen teacher discipline in the classroom. There is a greater focus on the basics like numeracy and literacy. We have restored academic rigour to the syllabus, so children are equipped for working life once they leave school. We have also put in place investment in a major expansion of apprenticeships and other vocational training, for bright - but not necessarily academic - youngsters.

We have, through the academy and free school program, given dedicated and pioneering head-teachers, school governors and parents greater freedom to innovate in their local schools - to tailor the education for their pupils and community, and drive up standards. The result? We now have 1 million more children in schools rated outstanding or good by Ofsted.

Locally, I have fought for a fairer deal for local funding. As a result, I secured a doubling of the capital funding for local schools, and an increase of £212 in the per pupil funding for local children. We have a major school-building program underway, which will ease the acute pressure we face for school places (because of the last Labour government's under-investment).

I have also worked with local schools and Surrey County Council to get more sensible catchment areas for some schools. We have an increasing number of academies - and two new free schools in Cobham - and standards of teaching are rising across the borough.

As well as working to ease pressure on local school places, I have been making the case nationally for a meritocratic revolution to boost social mobility. Last year, I published The Meritocrat's Manifesto here, which sets out the ladders of opportunity I'd like to see to expand opportunities for youngsters irrespective of their background.