A CAMPAIGN to provide 60 million children around the world with an education has reached the door of the Prime Minister, thanks to the work of a group of enterprising pupils.
The Year 6 students from Hazelwood School in Limpsfield visited Number 10 Downing Street to hand-deliver a petition signed by them, their parents and teachers.
It was drawn up in support of the world's largest children's campaign – Send My Friend to School – urging world leaders to end the global education crisis.
The petition was the culmination of months of work by the school as part of their Active Citizenship programme.
They set off to London on Monday, July 1, where they met with East Surrey MP Sam Gyimah to put their case forward, before being escorted to Downing Street where Freddie Mills, along with fellow pupils Louis Dean, Jade Taylor, Tallen Harris and Olga Dubov and teachers Sara Young and Ben Brownless, presented the petition at the door of Number 10. All the pupils said the project had been a great experience and a good opportunity to highlight an important issue to the highest office in the country.
Year 6 pupil Freddie Mills said: "It was a really exciting day and a fabulous opportunity to put our views across to Mr Cameron's government. I do believe that every child across the world has the right to be able to go to school. The walk up Downing Street was very special and very grand. I was a little nervous knocking on such a famous door but Sam, and my friends, were there to give support."
Mr Gyimah said: "Having recently visited Hazelwood school, I was delighted to welcome a delegation of pupils as they made their way to 10 Downing Street to present their petition. It's a thoroughly worthy cause – well done to the pupils and staff who made the presentation happen."
Unfortunately the pupils were unable to present their argument directly to Prime Minister David Cameron who was on a foreign visit to Kazakhstan, but the motion will now be considered by the government thanks to the effort of the pupils involved.