OTLEY MP Greg Mulholland recently met with Priti Patel MP, the new Secretary of State for International Development, to present her with letters written by pupils at Ashfield Primary School.

The pupils at the Otley school had written the letters as part of the ‘Send My Friend To School’ campaign, a global campaign aiming to highlight that many children across the world do not have access to education.

The pupils wrote letters to world leaders on the importance of children having a right to education and presented their letters to Greg Mulholland MP.

Greg recently visited the school to discuss the campaign with the pupils and receive their letters. He took the letters down to Westminster, where he then met with International Development Secretary Priti Patel, who was delighted to receive the letters and will now be writing to Ashfield Primary School to set out what steps she is taking on this issue.

Greg said: “I was delighted to meet Priti Patel, the new Secretary of State for International Development, and present her with the letters that pupils at Ashfield Primary School had written.

“She was clearly impressed to receive so many letters on the very important issue of education for children. Priti and I want to praise all the pupils for taking the time to write the letters and highlight this issue. She will now be writing to Ashfield Primary School to set out what work she is doing to make progress on this matter.

“I also want to thank all the teachers and parents of the children who encouraged them to get involved with the Send My Friend To School campaign.”

Ruth Wheeler, who teaches at Ashfield Primary School and encouraged pupils to get involved with the campaign, added:

“We were delighted that the Secretary of State personally received the letters written by our pupils, and we really look forward to receiving her letter setting out the work she is doing on this issue. Our pupils will be so pleased to know their campaign has gone to the very top in government!”