Doncaster MP Ed Miliband praises North Ridge students after Pupils Parliament visit
Following the visit, he praised the commitment of staff and said he had been impressed by the pupils' enthusiasm
North Ridge Community School, on Tener Balk Lane, welcomed local MP and Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Ed Miliband to meet members of its Pupil Parliament and hear how they are making a positive difference within their school community.
The academy, which is part of Nexus Multi Academy Trust (MAT), provides specialist education for children and young people aged 3 to 19 with severe learning difficulties.
Like every school across the Trust, North Ridge has a Pupil Parliament, ensuring children and young people have a meaningful voice in decisions that affect their education and wider school community.
During the visit, members of the Pupil Parliament shared how they have organised collections for the local foodbank, designed posters promoting energy saving and keeping the school environment clean and taken part in litter picks around the school.
They also spoke about influencing decisions on new playground equipment and school meals, demonstrating how pupil voice helps shape everyday life at North Ridge.
Alongside meeting pupils, Mr Miliband met with school leaders and Nexus MAT executives Lana Stoyles and Lisa Suter to discuss the increasing demand for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision and the challenges facing children and young people with SEND.
Following the visit, he praised the commitment of staff and said he had been impressed by the pupils' enthusiasm for “working together to make a positive difference in their school community”.
Writing to the Pupil Parliament after his visit, Mr Miliband said:“I was particularly impressed by how thoughtfully you shared your views and worked together to represent your fellow pupils.
“I really enjoyed meeting you all and seeing first-hand the contribution you make to school life.”
Jade Soler Alcaraz, Headteacher of North Ridge Community School, said:“Our Pupil Parliament gives pupils a genuine opportunity to influence school life while developing the confidence to express their ideas, listen to others and make decisions that benefit the whole school community. Opportunities like this reinforce that their voices matter and show our pupils they can make a real difference, both within school and beyond.”