Children at a Middlesbrough primary school gave mayor Chris Cooke a tough grilling when he visited to talk about his role and open their new play area.
Mr Cooke was one of people from a wide range of jobs and careers who were invited to talk to pupils at St Thomas More Catholic Primary in Easterside about what they do.
They asked him how he got into politics, why he felt he had the right qualities for the role and even how much he earned!
“They were very well-informed, and I think they got a lot from it, which is good to see,” said Mr Cooke.
“It’s great to be invited and important to see what the challenges are and find out what’s happening in the local community and if there are any worries or anything we can help with.”
Later Mr Cooke opened a new play area, with the help of some of the school’s younger pupils.
The equipment is part of a multi-million-pound capital investment programme this summer by Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust, which runs 38 schools across Teesside and North Yorkshire.
Work will continue during the summer holidays to create new allotments and an outdoor relaxation area at St Thomas More.
Ofsted inspectors who visited recently judged the school to be good overall and good in all areas, saying children are proud to be part of the community.
“This is a welcoming and inclusive school,” the report said. “Pupils celebrate the kind and caring attitudes pupils and staff have towards each other.
“The care they receive from staff is key to the warm relationships shared across the school community. There is a strong sense of belonging here shared by pupils, staff and leaders. Leaders are tenacious in supporting pupils and their families.
“Leaders and staff have high expectations and ambitions for all pupils here. The curriculum matches these aims. The aims and ambitions are also shared by those responsible for governance. Pupils rise to the expectations set by leaders.”
Executive headteacher Liz King is delighted with the report and said the new facilities will help the school offer children even more opportunities.
“Ofsted said one of our strengths is the personal development element of the opportunities we provide for our children,” she said. “We are in the top five per cent most deprived areas in the country, so we try to ensure that our children get every opportunity they can.
“Ofsted commented on how inclusive we are, that everybody is included. No matter what their background is, everyone here is valued for their individual talents.
“The inspectors picked up the school’s family feel straight away and said the children are proud to come to St Thomas More and proud of Easterside.
“We’re also proud to be part of  the community of Easterside and proud of the children and the families we serve. We just want the very best for them.”

New play facilities at St Thomas More Catholic Primary School in Middlesbrough – Photo by Michael McGeary

NCPAT CEO Hugh Hegarty said: “The ongoing enhancement in our schools is a powerful illustration of the multiple benefits of being part of NPCAT.
“Part of that mission involves raising aspirations by bringing in visitors from similar backgrounds who have been successful in a wide range of fields to meet the children.”
Head of school Ciara Smith asked the mayor to come and speak and was delighted when he agreed.
“We want the children to know there’s a whole range of careers out there, they don’t all have to be footballers, which is what they all seem to want to be,” she said.
“They need to know that just because they’re from Easterside doesn’t mean that they can achieve whatever they want to.
“Raising aspirations is important because poverty is the biggest issue here and one way of breaking that cycle is through education.
“We’re fortunate to have the grounds we have here and we’re really grateful to the trust for the investment they’re making.”
During his visit, Mr Cooke revealed details of a new initiative that he says will make a big difference for schools such as St Thomas More.
“We’re going to make a decision on auto-enrollment of free school meals in Middlesbrough, which will be a massive change and will help schools like this one,” he said.
“It would mean Middlesbrough seeking approval to do free school meals centrally. They’ve done this in Sheffield and it meant 5,000 children got meals who previously weren’t getting them, and about £3.8m went to local schools in additional pupil premium money from the government.
“That’s exactly what we need in Middlesbrough, to make sure every child who’s eligible gets those meals, regardless of whether they’ve filled in forms or not, and that the schools get the pupil premium money they’re entitled to.”