Rishi Sunak has praised the caring Christian ethos of an infants school in Great Ayton.
He also congratulated Marwood Church of England Infant School for the work it had done during the pandemic to encourage its pupils’ learning and maintain its strong links with the local community.
During a visit to the 61-pupil school, Mr Sunak met a group of seven Year Two pupils who showed him a series of outdoor improvements and projects.
A new outdoor play area was completed last year to provide pupils with a range of socially-distanced activities which linked into the school’s curriculum.
The area also includes a sheltered ‘Sacred Place’ where pupils can take time to reflect on their day, their learning and relationships with others.
Pupils have also been working on a eco project in the adjacent churchyard of the 12th All Saints’ Church designed to encourage nature and wildlife.
Mr Sunak helped one of the school’s Foundation Governors David Fox erect a series of bird boxes in the churchyard which is part of the project.
He also took part in a Q&A session with the group and they presented him with a number of ‘Hope Posters’. The posters, created by the pupils, have positive messages of hope designed to lift the spirits and copies have been displayed around the local community.
He said: “I was so impressed by the caring comments of the pupils and their positivity which was matched by the work the staff and governors have done to support the children’s learning during these unprecedented times.
“The caring ethos of the school and the creative approach to learning and the curriculum was manifest in all the activities I saw. It is clear to see why Marwood has been judged an Outstanding school in successive inspection reports.”
Headteacher Dorothy Walton said: “We were delighted to welcome Mr Sunak to our school, and to show him all the work the school has done during the pandemic to adapt and be a beacon of hope in our community. His visit was a memorable and uplifting day for the school.”
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