On Thursday 6th June we were visited by the Secretary of State for Education Damian Hinds.

Damian Hinds visited us to see how an alternative provision such as ourselves worked. He was greeted by a selection of our pupils who represented the student voice. They questioned him at length on lots of issues one of which was why mainstream schools do not try harder to keep them and work through issues, they wanted to know if anything could be done to remedy this problem.

Later in the day staff were invited to meet with him and discuss how things work at our school and they posed questions such as funding and how it affects the way we can support our students. Damian was interested in what our students can access outside of school and what we do as a school to support students. Staff asked about the lack of funding and talked about how parents feel we are doing well supporting the students and inspiring them to change. They described how Burnside is a bridge between parents and Social Services and is vital in helping students change and make good decisions therefore enabling them to return to Main-stream education.

Damian Hinds MP was appointed Secretary of State for Education on 8 January 2018. He was elected Conservative MP for East Hampshire in May 2010.

Damian attended St Ambrose Grammar School, Altrincham before completing a degree in politics, philosophy and economics.

The Secretary of State is responsible for the work of the Department for Education, including:

• Early years
• Children’s social care
• Teachers’ pay
• The school curriculum
• School improvement
• Academies and free schools
• Further education
• Higher education
• Apprenticeships and skills