Baroness Diana Barran visited three local schools in Hartlepool, including St Hild’s C of E, to find out more information regarding an extra £1.4 million in funding that Hartlepool is receiving.
Last year Hartlepool was named as a Priority Education Investment Area by the Government for additional and support to improve results affected by high levels of deprivation.
Baroness Barran visited St Hild’s where she was greeted by the Junior Leadership Team and met with both Debi Bailey, CEO of NEAT Academy Trust, and Tracey Gibson, Headteacher of St Hild’s. She was then given a tour of the school where they discussed the benefits for a school such as St Hild’s receiving additional funding.
The Baroness also dropped in on a number of lessons where she remarked that she was “very impressed” with the calmness of the school and focused determination of the pupils.
Afterwards, headteacher Tracey Gibson, described the experience as ‘delightful’ mentioning how ‘excited the children were to have a ministerial visit.’ Regarding the extra funding, she added: “For schools like ours which feeds a community that has such high levels of deprivation any additional funding and support is a good thing.”
During the visit, our students represented the school impeccably. It was a real honour to welcome such an important member of government to our school.