St Mary’s Catholic College in Wallasey was honoured to welcome local MP Dame Angela Eagle for a special visit on Friday, 23 May.
During her time at the secondary school, which is part of Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust, Dame Angela met with staff and students to explore how the National Tutoring Programme has supported student progress.
The programme was introduced by the Department for Education to provide additional support to children across the country whose learning was most affected due to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
At St Mary’s Catholic College, the National Tutoring Programme has been used to deliver high-quality, personalised tuition to students across a range of subjects. During her visit, Dame Angela heard directly from staff about the positive impact the programme has had on student attainment and confidence. She also spoke with students and their parents who have benefited from one-to-one tutoring, gaining valuable insight into how this support has helped students better access the curriculum and overcome individual learning challenges.
The visit also included a tour of the school, where Dame Angela experienced St Mary’s strong sense of community and its unwavering commitment to helping every student reach their full potential.
A key part of the day was spent with members of the student council, who enthusiastically shared their experiences, achievements, and aspirations for the future. The visit highlighted the positive impact of targeted learning support and the importance of student voice initiatives within the school.
Year 9 students Amelia and Kieran provided musical entertainment during the visit, with Kieran accompanying on piano and Amelia performing ‘Imagine’ by John Lennon.
Amelia said: “It was such an exciting opportunity to welcome Dame Angela to our school. I felt really proud to show her around and to be able to sing in front of her, as it’s not every day you get to perform for your local MP! I loved talking to her about my ambitions and what I hope to do in the future. I’m really proud to be part of such a supportive and inspiring school community, and it meant a lot to be able to show that off.”
Kevin Maddocks, headteacher of St Mary’s Catholic College, commented: “It was a pleasure to welcome MP Dame Angela Eagle into St Mary’s. Her visit was a great opportunity to share the positive work taking place across our school.
“We’re proud of the supportive, inclusive environment we’ve created, and it was wonderful to see our young people engaging so confidently and passionately about their experiences and aspirations.”
CEO of Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust, Andy Moor, added: “This visit was a valuable opportunity to demonstrate the impact of strategic initiatives like the National Tutoring Programme at St Mary’s and to celebrate the strength of leadership, teaching, and student voice across the school.”