Julian Smith MP hosted his annual school leader’s lunch in Burnsall last week for headteachers and student leaders from each secondary school in his constituency.
Representatives from eleven schools attended the lunch which celebrates the achievements of the wonderful secondary schools across Skipton and Ripon. All of the schools were represented and the lunch was kindly supported by Skipton company Principle Healthcare.
Julian Smith took some excellent questions from students on a range of topics including the EU referendum, schools standards and local wildlife campaigns.
The pupils also heard from two local business leaders. Fiona Lazenby from Principle Healthcare, which has offices in Skipton and across Europe, spoke about her role as head of innovation at the company and about the importance that innovation will play in coming years as companies look to seek out new and exciting ways of running their businesses. Jessica Ackrigg from Peel Entertainment, which is based at Broughton Hall, told the pupils about the importance of creating a diverse and balanced workplace, which tied in with International Women’s Day Celebrations that had taken place earlier in the week. She also spoke about the opportunities for young people in the local area and the way that technology is now working to break down geographical constraints, with Peel Entertainment choosing to base itself in the stunning surroundings of Yorkshire, with satellite offices in America and London.
Julian Smith said: ‘It was great to meet such dynamic pupils from across the constituency. The School Leader’s Lunch continues to provide an excellent opportunity to bring together students and teachers from all over Skipton and Ripon and provide a forum where they can talk about the issues that matter to them. I was particularly interested to hear about the exciting prospects for our pupils this year, with students going on to study at university, entering into apprenticeships and further education courses, and some taking time out to travel or work. One of the attendees is going on to train as a nurse in the Army and another has just signed a contract to play football with Chelsea F.C. It was fantastic to see such ambitious students before they embark upon the next phase of their lives.’
