School pupils tell Prime Minister to “Send my Friend to School”

The year three and four pupils from Millfield First School in Buntingford have been participating in a global campaign called Send My Friend to School, and have put together a petition calling on the the UK government to support efforts to increase the number of children in developing countries who regularly attend school. They are also asking the government to help increase the number of teachers in the developing world.

In addition, the pupils created pieces of art, on which they wrote messages to Prime Minister David Cameron.

Oliver Heald, MP for North East Herts, delivered the petition to Number 10 Downing Street last week.

Nadine Gooding, Millfield’s international co-ordinator, has been working with the children on the project alongside her colleague, Liz Holland.

She said: “The children were very excited when they heard that Oliver Heald had handed their art in at Downing Street.

“As a school we try to promote the international curriculum, and have been involved in Send My Friend to School for some years now.

“This term the emphasis was on increasing the number of teachers in developing countries, and the children have been discussing the subject with Mrs Holland in their PHSE lessons. They have really engaged well with this issue, and produced some great work.”

Mr Heald said “The pupils of Millfield School produced wonderful artwork to support this campaign. Each pupil had written their own message on the back of the picture and I was pleased to hand in the petition to Number 10.

“I know the PM is a strong supporter of the Millenium Development Goals, including that for education, and will admire the efforts of the Millfield pupils.”