On Friday 26th November, MP Gareth Davies visited Stamford Welland Academy as an excellent opportunity for students to share their views on politics and their future. Gareth Davies, who was joined by Kelham Cooke, leader of South Kesteven District Council, spent the morning meeting with a variety of students, including members of the academy’s cadet force, students with a keen interest in politics and had lunch with the Student Leadership Team.
The academy also gave students the opportunity to share their voice by talking to Gareth about topics they were passionate about. These topics included free school meals, the impact of raw sewage and rivers, cuts to policing in the Stamford area, the rise in crime in Stamford, the implementation of electric charging points for cars in Stamford and the impact that Covid-19 has had on their lives.
Gareth encouraged students to share their opinions, answered questions regarding the environment and spoke about politics and issues with organised crime.
Vicky Lloyd, Headteacher of Stamford Welland Academy, said: “We loved being able to welcome Gareth and Kelham into our school last month. It was brilliant to see our young people so engaged, asking such insightful questions and bringing politics to life for the students, which can be a challenging area to teach.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Gareth and Kelham for showing their support and commitment to the future of our young people and providing them with a platform to encourage student voice and democracy. It was such a great experience for all and we hope to be able to provide more opportunities like this for our students in the near future.”
Sarah Wilson, Executive Principal of CMAT, said: “At CMAT, we strive to ensure all students are provided with an enriching curriculum that extends the boundaries of learning, including educational visits and activities.
“The visit to Stamford Welland Academy allowed students to challenge themselves and provided a real insight into the world of politics and important issues. I hope many of our students can take inspiration from the day and use this to build on their future career aspirations and ambitions.
“The students did such a fantastic job in representing the school and the wider community and should be most proud of themselves.”