St Cuthbert’s pupils shape future of Kenton!

Future members of the electorate had their say when children at our school met with their Member of Parliament to share their ideas for improving the neighbourhood.

The Student Council at St Cuthbert’s Catholic Primary School were visited by Catherine McKinnell, MP for Newcastle upon Tyne North, as part of her discussions with the community about the multi-million Pride in Place funding allocated to the Kenton area.

Mrs Haighton is our PSHE (Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education) Lead and also heads the Student Council.

“Catherine McKinnell contacted our school to ask if we would like to be involved in coming up with ideas for how the funding could be spent,” she explained. “The Student Council went around the local area, taking photos and coming up with ideas for improvements which they made into a PowerPoint and presented to the school.

“They made a forms’ survey and took ideas to add to their research. When Catherine came in, they each presented a slide sharing the views of the whole school.”

The ten Student Council members represent their peers at St Cuthbert’s, with two elected from each group from Years 2 to 6.

Mrs Haighton continued: “Before the meeting, the Student Council looked closely at their local community, thinking about the places that are important to children and families. They spoke to pupils across the school to gather ideas and opinions about what could be improved and what new facilities people would like to see.

“One of the main ideas was to improve the local sports centre and play park so that they are more enjoyable, welcoming, and accessible for everyone. The children also suggested creating a war memorial in the park, giving local people a special place to remember those who have served their community and country.

“Road safety was another important topic. The pupils highlighted the need for more safe crossing points to help children and families travel around Kenton safely. They also discussed the importance of giving young people places to meet and spend time together, suggesting that a youth centre could provide a safe and friendly space for local children and teenagers.”

She added: “The meeting gave the Student Council the chance to share the views of their classmates directly with their local MP. They were proud to represent their school and show that children can play an important role in helping to shape the future of their community. 

“With £20 million set to be invested in Kenton over the next ten years, the pupils were excited to see how their ideas could help make a positive difference for everyone who lives there.”