MP meets with school's 'Global Ambassadors'

Arundel & South Downs MP Nick Herbert visited The St Philip Howard Catholic High School last week (6 July) to learn about the Send My Friend to School campaign that students are taking part in.

Send My Friend to School is a campaign that has brought together hundreds of thousands of students and teachers in the UK who want world leaders to keep their promise and make sure that every child can go to school, no matter where they live.

With the Olympics rapidly approaching, students at The St Philip Howard Catholic High School, St Mary's Primary School and St Philip's Primary School have been busy creating Olympic medals to support the Send My Friend to School campaign.

67 million children across the world do not have access to primary school education.  One of the millennium goals focused on addressing this problem, with the aim that all children should have access to primary education by 2015.  Progress is being made, but there is still a long way to go.

During his visit, Mr Herbert was presented with over 300 Olympic medals designed by the students, each containing a message highlighting the importance of ensuring that the millennium goal is met.

Nick also had the opportunity to spend time talking with the school's Global Ambassadors group about the lack of primary school education for so many children across the world and how this affects the lives of those children and their families.

Nick was also able to discuss the problems firsthand with Johnson Nsabimana, a headteacher from Rwanda who had spent two weeks at The St Philip Howard Catholic High School as part of a reciprocal visit scheme with the British Council. 

Assistant head teacher, Alison Baker said: "We should like to thank Nick Herbert for coming to visit us and to help support the Send My Friend to School campaign."

Following his visit, Mr Herbert commented: "It was a pleasure to visit The St Philip Howard Catholic High School again and meet with some of the pupils who have really engaged with this important campaign.

"The pupils were really enthusiastic about highlighting the importance for children all over the world to receive an education and the affects it has on lives when this is denied to children.

"I was also delighted to have had the opportunity to meet Johnson Nsabimana and hear about the differences between our schools and those in Rwanda, where education is not always available to every child".

Ends

Notes for Editors

1.    For more information on the Send My Friend to School campaign please visit: http://www.sendmyfriend.org/

2.   For more information on The St Philip Howard Catholic High School, please visit: http://www.st-philiphoward.w-sussex.sch.uk