The secretary of state for education visited the school for some education chat

an adult siting conversing iwth school pupils in uniform

Secretary of state for education Gillian Keegan visited Whitefield School for what proved to be a thought provoking encounter as students seized the opportunity to pose intense questions.

Throughout the visit last week, students demonstrated a keen interest in education policy and its real-world impact, prompting Gillian Keegan to engage in candid and informative discussions. From inquiries about educational funding to concerns about inclusivity and diversity in the curriculum, students tackled a range of pressing issues facing the education system today.

Keegan commended the students for their thoughtful questions and active participation emphasising the importance of students’ voices in shaping educational policies.

Reflecting on the minister’s visit, Chris Hunt, headteacher of Whitefield School, said: “It was inspiring to see our students confidently articulating their concerns and perspectives on important educational matters. Their questions challenged conventional thinking and highlighted the need for ongoing dialogue between students and policymakers.”

A Whitefield student in Year 9 shared their perspective, stating they learnt from the experience ‘that Gillian Keegan MP is particularly interested in the fact that she wants our country to be top 10 in terms of having the best results for STEM subjects.

“A policy that I would consider to be pivotal for the betterment of the country is to ban phones throughout all schools like ours, as I consider phones to be a hindrance on our learning as well as having a negative impact on your physical and mental well being. I also heard Miss Keegan’s thoughts on this and she thought of it to be a really good idea considering the fact that the students are able to concentrate on their learning without any problems whatsoever.

“Personally, what I gained from this experience is that she wants the betterment of our country in terms of education through her use of having teachers who are experts within their fields as well as the importance of funding for state schools so that they have all the necessities to ensure that students are working in an exceptional environment.”

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