Hastings and Rye MP quizzed by school children

Amber Rudd answered ARK Blacklands Primary School pupils’ questions and she said she was ‘put through her paces’ by the children.

The MP was invited by vice-principal Natalie Rankin and was taken around the school by class ambassadors Ruby and Charlie.

“I was delighted to then be taken to the school hall to answer the children’s many questions on wide ranging topics from questions on my working day, my past, and my future plans, to detailed questions on energy policy in my role as secretary of state for energy and climate change,” she said.

“The children certainly put me through my paces with their searching questions, indicating their interest and those of the school in energy policies.

“It was a real pleasure for me to engage with such well informed students.”

It has been a busy week for Ms Rudd as she attended a forum on how schools and communities can work together to improve young people’s futures at Helenswood Upper School on Friday (November 20).

The forum was organised by the Education Futures Trust and Brighton University, supported by Hastings Community Network and ARK Academy Trust.

“It was a pleasure to see the commitment, enthusiasm and passion expressed by school staff and practitioners towards their shared goal of driving up standards whilst simultaneously increasing emotional resilience, self-esteem, motivation and communication skills for young people” she said.

Supported by practitioners, community members, parents, school staff and academics the conference looked at making best use of research, local knowledge and good practice.

Brighton University academics gave examples of research that can inform and improve practice.

Three students from St Leonards Academy spoke about how they learnt to manage their own emotions and increased their resilience, as a result of involvement in a pilot therapeutic storytelling course.

The course was run by the trust in conjunction with the academy, while a parent explained how her relationship with her son was rebuilt through joint work between schools, agencies and the trust keyworker.

School staff spoke about the new cross-school initiative Thrive, that is being introduced this year, and also about the town wide parade that will take place on June 10.

The event concluded with panel members, including Ms Rudd and speakers from the day, answering questions from the audience and considering how to take forward the learning from the day.

Ms Rudd also visited Torfield School and Early Year’s Centre’s new playground, which she described as ‘much more stimulating, colourful, interesting and safe’.

“It was lovely to see the children enjoying their play time outside, taking full advantage of all the new facilities, and to feel the spring in the rubberised ‘flooring’ offering a safe landing should anyone trip over,” she said.

“The children were clearly enjoying their play time in the fresh air and using each new feature to the full.”

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