Home Secretary takes part in school assembly
The Home Secretary, Theresa May, took part in a celebration assembly when she visited Hughenden Primary Schoollast Friday (January 8).
Mrs May was at the award-winning school in Spring Valley Drive, High Wycombe, to discuss the subject of safeguarding after being invited by Headteacher Sarah Leighton and school governor David Carroll.
Mr Carroll, who is also the localcounty councillor,said: “We invited the Home Secretary to observe first-hand the school’s ‘can-do’ attitude, particularly in its best practice approach to safeguarding and pastoral care.
“The visit lasted for nearly two hours, talking to staff and children, asking questions about all that we do for our children and families. It was very exciting.”
Mrs Leighton said: “One of my passions is safeguarding and creating a nurturing school. If we can spot something early with our children, we can deal with it before any problems develop. Our school takes great pride in knowing all of our children really well. We have a full time member of staff dedicated to pastoral care.
“This post is held by Linda O’Malley who is always on hand to provide pastoral support to the children and their families. Her role extends to working together with outside agencies providing the very best care and early help. The children are absolutely central to everything we do and everything is about improving their lives. Nothing is too small to be shared. Every single day, the children are met at the door and greeted. We make that time to talk with them.”
The Home Secretary attended primarily to look at how the Government’s Prevent programme – a strategy to address radicalisation within schools -was working, which naturally led on to discussing safeguarding and pastoral care.
Mrs May also showed great interest in how Hughenden has developed the apprenticeship scheme. The high-profile visit follows the school’s triumph in last year’s Buckinghamshire Business Awards when it was named Apprenticeship Employer of the Year.
Headteacher Mrs Leighton is on the Bucks Children’s Safeguarding Board. She spoke about the hard work and dedication of all agencies working together to create the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH).
Cllr Zahir Mohammed, Buckinghamshire County Council Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: “I have visited the school myself and was hugely impressed by its ethos. I am delighted the Home Secretary took the time to see for herself how such a successful primary school operates.”