Pupils share local concerns and fundraising efforts with MP

Marie Tidball MP, Member of Parliament for Penistone and Stocksbridge, visited Stocksbridge High School to discuss local and national issues, and to hear about the fundraising efforts pupils are making to support their community.

Pupils at Stocksbridge High School discussed issues of local and national importance with Marie, in particular their concerns around SEND provision. Marie talked about her work on SEND, shared her story as a former SEND child herself, and encouraged the pupils to get involved with oracy to advocate for the issues they believe in.

Marie then met with the recently re-established School Council, with involved pupils taking on a leadership role amongst their peers to raise awareness and funds for local and national causes. Recent activities they have undertaken to raise funds include non-uniform days and bake sales, in favour of local causes such as the local foodbank and Sheffield Children’s Hospital, as well as raising £947.85 for Children in Need last November. Marie encouraged the school to keep getting involved in other opportunities for fundraising around the Stocksbridge community throughout the coming months.

Marie also attended the re-opening of the school’s Whitwell Library, which provides a spacious, more accessible area for pupils to work and read, including use of computers to facilitate their work. Pupils discussed the books that they are currently reading with Marie, who shared in their passion.

Marie Tidball MP said,

“It was brilliant to speak with pupils at Stocksbridge High School about the causes that they care about, and to hear about how they are taking steps to fundraise to improve those issues, whether it is for a cause local to Stocksbridge or feeding into a national campaign.

*The students were keen to ask questions about my role as an MP, and it was so uplifting to see them take such an interest in oracy and speechwriting. *

I look forward to returning to the school and hopefully I will soon see them down in Westminster!”

Ben Gilder, Headteacher, said,

“The pupils and staff were delighted to welcome Dr Tidball to our wonderful school. She was great with the pupils in particular, who were enthralled in the stories of her childhood in the local area. She is clearly passionate about supporting the community and was keen to see first-hand the barriers we are trying to overcome in terms of providing the best provision we can to our most vulnerable learners.

We are definitely keen for her to come and work on the speech writing workshop, this would tie in really well with the speaking and listening part of the English Language assessment for our Y10 pupils in the Summer term.”