Pupils at Haverhill’s St Felix Catholic Primary School grilled Nick Timothy — the MP for West Suffolk — on various topics when he visited on Friday 4th October 2024.
The students asked Nick for his thoughts on a range of questions. These included why Haverhill does not have a train station, the ways in which the local high street can be revitalised, how to encourage people to use bins outside restaurants, improving the quality of play equipment in parks and the need to prevent knife crime.
The questions also touched on national and global issues such as migration and how to tackle inequality.
The grilling came after Nick had been given a tour of the school as it celebrated its harvest festival and as pupils brought in grocery donations for the local food bank.
Nick said following the visit: “I want to congratulate St Felix for being named a ‘Good’ school after its most recent inspection by Ofsted. The quality of education is undoubtedly excellent. And the philosophy of giving, charity and generosity at the school is clear to visitors the moment they arrive.
“I was very grateful to head teacher Andi Dodds for showing me around. St Felix is a special place, with a brilliant team of teachers and support staff, and I was struck by how nurturing and welcoming the atmosphere was.”
Asked how he held up to the forensic questioning by pupils, Nick said: “What struck me was the quality of the questions and how intelligent and impressive were the members of the school council and the house captains who asked them.
“The pupils certainly put me through my paces. It was great to meet curious and engaged young people who are taking an interest in how to improve the community. It certainly gives one a sense of optimism for the future.”
