Sir Thomas Wharton welcomed John Healey, Member of Parliament for Rawmarsh and Conisbrough and Secretary of State for Defence, to the Academy on Friday to speak with the school’s student parliament and Year 10 pupils.
Year 10 students met their local MP and learnt about his role in Parliament and his work as a Secretary of State. Pupils asked a range of thoughtful questions and showed a strong interest in the role of their MP.
After the assembly, John met with members of the Student Parliament to hear about their mental health mentoring programme and sustainability projects, first launched during his previous visit. Since then, the students have successfully secured a £2,000 grant after pitching their ideas in London. They are now using the funding to build a greenhouse and grow fresh fruit and vegetables.
Two members of the Student Parliament, Ava Glover and Sophie Grimshaw have been recently elected to Doncaster Youth Council. John spoke with both students and offered support for their campaign work, recognising their dedication to representing young people in the community.
Speaking after the visit, John Healey said:
“It was brilliant to be at Sir Thomas Wharton to spend time speaking with students. I was impressed by the Student Parliament’s continued commitment to working together, improving their school community and taking responsibility for making change happen”
“A huge well done to Ava and Sophie on their election to Doncaster Youth Council – it is a great opportunity to represent the voices of their peers in Edlington.”
Lauren Gerrard, English Teacher and Student Parliament lead, said:
“We are absolutely thrilled, as an academy, to have welcomed John Healey, Secretary of State for Defence, whose visit provided an invaluable opportunity for our students and staff to engage with national leadership, gain insight into public service and defence, and be inspired by his commitment to the future of education and the wider community.
“This visit was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the strength of our student leadership and the many initiatives taking place across the school that help to drive and capture student voice.”