Dr Neil Hudson, Member of Parliament for Epping Forest, recently visited Oaklands School in Loughton, where he enjoyed a tour of the facilities and led an engaging assembly and Q&A session with Key Stage 1 and 2 pupils.
Dr Hudson praised the school’s welcoming atmosphere and commended the recent developments to its infrastructure, particularly the science and home economics block.
As part of the visit, Dr Hudson met with the school’s Headteacher to discuss the school’s nurturing environment and the unique challenges currently facing the independent education sector, including concerns surrounding the Labour Government’s Schools Tax.
During the lively Q&A, pupils quizzed Dr Hudson on a wide range of topics, from his professional background as a veterinary surgeon to national and global issues such as pollution, animal welfare, the NHS, Central Line transport concerns, and climate change. The pupils also proudly spoke about their ongoing charitable work supporting the Epping Forest Foodbank.
Dr Hudson, MP for Epping Forest, said:
"It was a pleasure to visit Oaklands School and meet such engaged and thoughtful young folk. Their questions were so insightful and showed great awareness of the world around them.
“I was also hugely impressed by the strong sense of community fostered by the staff.
“Labour’s senseless attack on our Independent School sector with their punitive VAT on school fees policy is proving really damaging to this sector that many hard-working parents make huge sacrifices for, to enable their children to be educated there."
Mrs Gretchen Copeman, Headmistress at Oaklands School, said:
“It was a wonderful experience for the children at our school to meet their local MP, Neil. They had the opportunity to hear about the issues he is passionate about and the improvements he hopes to bring to the Loughton area.
“The children were especially pleased to learn that Neil is actively working on making the Central Line quieter, more punctual, and free from the growing problem of graffiti, helping to ensure the tube is a more pleasant experience for all users.
“Our pupils also had the chance to voice their own concerns, raising both local and global issues that matter to them. It was an inspiring and informative session that encouraged civic awareness and engagement among our students.”
