Catherine McKinnell MP recently paid a visit to Beech Hill Primary School in West Denton to officially present pupils with a special award in recognition of their work in the local community.

Beech Hill staff invited the Newcastle North MP to help celebrate the news that its pupils had been selected as Runners Up in the national Speaker’s School Council Awards.

These annual awards, launched by the Speaker of the House of Commons the Rt Hon John Bercow MP, recognise and celebrate the achievements of School Councils across the country. They are open to every infant, primary, secondary and SEN school in the UK.

Beech Hill Primary pupils were nominated for their work within their local community, and particularly in supporting homeless people in Newcastle – which is led by a group of pupils known as ‘Team Hope’.

Catherine was welcomed to the school by pupils performing their special ‘Beech Hill haka’, before she presented the Runners-Up Award to members of Team Hope during a whole school assembly.  The local MP also discussed the school’s extensive work to support homeless people across Newcastle with Team Hope members, as well as taking questions about her work from Year 6 pupils.

Catherine said:

‘The extent of the work undertaken by Beech Hill Primary pupils in supporting their local community is really impressive.

‘It was so heartwarming to hear about the lengths to which the school is going to support homeless people across Newcastle, and the difference this has made to the pupils themselves.

‘I’m really delighted they’ve been recognised with this national award, and they should be rightly proud of this achievement.’

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