Pupils at Powers Hall Academy queue up to show off their handwriting skills to Priti Patel.
Priti visits Powers Hall Academy to chat with pupils about their handwriting and gardening
On Friday morning (25th June), Witham’s MP, Priti Patel paid a visit to Powers Hall Academy, in Spa Road, for a catch up with Jane Bass CEO of Connected Learning, the trust which runs the School.
During her visit, Priti toured the school’s allotments with many of the pupils taking great delight in showing her the plants they have been growing. She also met their Outdoor Learning Leader, Mandy Stoneham. Priti talked to some of the children during their lunchbreak, when she asked them about their positive experiences of being back at school, post Covid. She also took time to visit a classroom, where she asked the pupils how they were getting on with their handwriting and many of them brought their work to show her.
Priti and Ms Bass also talked about school issues, such as behaviour improvement strategies, support being received from PCSOs and safety outside the school gates. They also discussed plans for September and beyond for developing community links. Powers Hall Academy is seeking funding to build a sports venue that could be used by the School and the community.
Speaking after her visit, Priti said: “It was good to be back at Powers Hall Academy and to be talking about positive things in their future. I was particularly pleased to see how well the School is bouncing back post lockdown. Like most schools, they have had a tough time and had to adapt very quickly to vastly different and unusual forms of teaching. It was a pleasure to see how much the students I spoke to were enjoying being back in school. I particularly enjoyed talking to them about their activities in the allotments, including growing their own vegetables, which often get used in the School’s kitchens!”
Jane Bass said: “It was a great pleasure to see Priti back in our School and to give her an update on our progress. We very much appreciate her long-term support and the advice she was able to give us today about the plans we have for the future.”
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