Mark Francois, MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, paid a recent visit to Greensward Academy, in Hockley, where as well as witnessing the major rebuild of the school which is currently underway, he was grilled by year 12 Government and Politics Students, which he jokingly described as akin to those delivered by Newsnight host, Jeremy Paxman!
Mark met with the students, who are currently studying for their A-Levels, and took part in a question and answer session where the pupils asked their MP topical questions on a range of issues such as combatting ISIL, the potential EU referendum, the First Past the Post voting system and local housing and development proposals.
Mark was then taken on a tour of the school by the Principal Mrs Debbie Stokes and toured the new Maths and Science blocks, as well as the impressive Art and Design departments, before being shown the progress of those areas still under reconstruction. The £15milllion project is now scheduled for completion early next year.
Commenting on the visit to Greensward Academy, Mark said:
"I had a very successful visit to Greensward Academy and I was really impressed by the intelligence and maturity shown by the Government and Politics students who asked some thought-provoking questions. We had a really good chat and they were so keen they even stayed past the bell for their break to continue our discussions. In light of their enthusiasm I thought it was only right that I invited them to come and visit Parliament, which we hope to arrange for later this year.
It was also good to have a chance to see the progress the school is making – as it goes through its major reconstruction and I look forward to seeing the finished outcome once the project is completed next year."