Nick Herbert visits Upper Beeding Primary School
Arundel & South Downs MP Nick Herbert paid a visit to Upper Beeding Primary School on Friday morning (28 November) to meet pupils and staff at the school.
During his visit, Mr Herbert met with Acting Headteacher Becky Linford, before being given a tour of the school by Year 5 pupils Rebecca Hobson, Connie Lynas, Edward Whitting and Year 6 house captains Ruby Taylor and Sam Tombs.
At the end of the tour, the pupils were given an opportunity to put questions to Mr Herbert. Ruby Taylor wanted to know if he got involved in "arguments" in the House of Commons. Mr Herbert said that, as a member of the opposition, it is an important part of his job to challenge the decisions made by ministers and to hold the Government to account.
Rebecca Hobson wanted to know if Mr Herbert had met former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Mr Herbert said that he had indeed met her and, although quite frail, she was still an amazing person and a formidable figure.
Upper Beeding Primary School is a mixed community school for pupils aged between 4 and 11. It is located in School Road and has around 250 pupils.
The school has a range of lunchtime and after-school clubs, providing activities such as dance, football, netball and karate. The school also has its own choir which, on 2 November this year, was awarded the title Choir of the Year at the Arun Young Musicians' Festival.
The last OFSTED inspection, in March 2007, found that the school was "good" overall with "several outstanding features". It was described as having a "very strong family atmosphere".
After the visit, Mrs Linford commented: "The children of Upper Beeding Primary School enjoyed the visit by local MP Nick Herbert. Some of the older children got a chance to talk to Mr Herbert about his life as an MP and what made him want to do it. All the children thoroughly enjoyed meeting him. Ruby Taylor (age 10) believed that she would like to be an MP as they got to make lots of important decisions!"
Nick Herbert commented: "It is always a huge pleasure to visit schools in my constituency, but I particularly enjoyed being given a guided tour by some of the Year 5 and 6 children at Upper Beeding. It was great fun but it also gave me a pupil's insight into the school. They were delightful representatives of their classmates and a great advert for the school and the local community. I am very grateful to the Acting Head, Becky Linford, for organising it."
Ends
Notes for Editors
1. For the website of Upper Beeding Primary School, visit http://www.upperbeeding.w-sussex.sch.uk/default.htm
2. For a copy of the last OFSTED inspection report, visit http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/oxedu_reports/download/(id)/82022/(as)/125857_293380.pdf
3. The Friends of Upper Beeding School (FUBS) raise money for the school by organising social events. They have recently held a coffee morning, film show, quiz night and Halloween disco.
4. A photograph of the visit is shown above, with Nick Herbert and (from left to right) Acting Headteacher Becky Linford, Sam Tombs, Rebecca Hobson, Connie Lynas, Ruby Taylor and Edward Whitting.