THE work of an education service which gives pupils a second chance to achieve has been praised by Richmond MP Rishi Sunak.
Mr Sunak visited the Hambleton and Richmondshire Pupil Referral Service in Northallerton to meet staff and pupils.
The service, based in the former East Road primary school, gives children who have found attending mainstream schools difficult the opportunity to get their education back on track.
Mr Sunak was invited to the school by one of its pupils, Year 11 student Jane Morton, from Thirsk.
He spent time talking to Jane and her fellow pupils about his life as an MP and enjoyed tea and scones prepared and served by Jane and fellow pupil Keiran Brown, of Stokesley.
PJ Adams-Buckworth, 13, also of Stokesley, presented him with multi-coloured pen handmade in the unit’s design and technology workshop.
Mr Sunak said: “I was most impressed to see the work done by the service and to meet some wonderful pupils and the very supportive staff.
“The service is dedicated to giving children who have struggled for a variety of reasons a second chance to achieve. I saw lots of evidence that demonstrate that is exactly what is happening at East Road.”
The pupil referral service has been open at East Road for six years and aims to re-engage young people with their education if they have been excluded from mainstream schools.