Amelia W, Charlotte C, Lucy H and Molly H were drawn as the overall winners of a summer term attendance competition which afforded them an opportunity to visit the Houses of Parliament and have lunch with their MP.

Accompanied by school attendance officer Harriet Elvidge and family support adviser Lucy Hopper, the group also visited landmarks including the Cenotaph, Downing Street and Horse Guards Parade on their way to the Palace of Westminster. 

On arrival, the group was met by senior parliamentary assistant Sam Bellamy who led a private tour of the site which included access to the House of Commons, the House of Lords, the Royal Gallery and the 11th-century Westminster Hall. The tour culminated with lunch on the estate’s riverside terrace with Mr Stuart, who praised the students for their attendance efforts and answered their questions about local and national politics, education and their aspirations for the future.

Among the topics discussed were inheritance tax for farmers and support for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) — the latter being a subject on which Mr Stuart recently led a parliamentary debate, highlighting the per-pupil funding disparities facing SEND students in the East Riding compared with other areas.

Mr Stuart said: “It was a pleasure to meet Amelia, Charlotte, Lucy and Molly and welcome them to Parliament. Attendance matters. Their commitment to their education and their futures is truly commendable and it’s important that we recognise and reward young people who turn up to school every day. I’m grateful to Hull Trains for making this unforgettable day possible by providing free rail travel.”

Reflecting on the experience, Year 7 student Amelia said: “It was really fun and the overall experience was amazing. I feel lucky to have been on this trip. Even though it was a rewards trip, I felt like I learnt a lot too. The best bit of the day was having lunch with Graham on the terrace. Seeing all the statues in Parliament and learning about them was really good too.

“I’ve been to London a few times before but I’ve only ever been outside the Parliament buildings so it was good to go inside this time. I was so excited when I found out that I’d won and I feel really lucky that I was the only one in year 7 who was selected. Attendance really is important. You miss out on a lot if you aren’t at school and being there will really help to prepare you for your GCSEs.”

Year 8 winner Charlotte added: “I loved being able to learn new facts about Parliament and I really enjoyed the history side of it all. We had a very helpful tour guide, and lunch with Graham Stuart was wonderful. I have been to London before and think that it is very beautiful - I especially like the traditional buildings. The Houses of Parliament were amazing and I loved all the intricate designs, especially in the House of Lords.

“When I found out that I was able to go on the trip I was nervous but also very excited because it’s something that not a lot of people will ever experience. I knew that I would definitely have a lot of fun.”

Year 10 winner Molly said: “I really enjoyed the experience and found it really interesting. I’ve been to London before but this time I went to Piccadilly Circus which I hadn’t seen before. When I found out that I had been picked for this trip I felt very happy and lucky. I think attendance is important as if you don’t come to school you miss key learning and you may struggle in your lessons.”

Lucy H, another Year 8 winner, added: “I really enjoyed going around London and getting to see the lovely views. The visit to the Houses of Parliament was amazing. It was beautiful inside and it was nice to see new things. When I found out I was on the trip I was very happy to know all my attendance has paid off. I think attendance is highly important because every lesson you miss, the more you are behind. Our school works hard to keep people’s attendance good and I just want to say a big thank you.”

Following lunch at Parliament, the group visited the world-famous Hamleys toy shop on Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus, and Leicester Square’s LEGO and M&M stores, before making their way back to King’s Cross for the journey home.   

The trip was open to students who met a set of criteria, including at least 95 per cent attendance with no late marks, over 500 positive behaviour points and Attitude to Learning grades that reflect strong engagement, work ethic and a positive approach to learning. 22 students registered their interest in the trip, with the top point scorers from each year’s entrants being placed in a draw for final selection.

The London rewards experience was offered as an incentive by Graham Stuart during a visit to the school in March. Although primarily there to support the school’s careers programme, he also met with attendance officer Harriet Elvidge to learn what measures are in place to promote positive attendance and recognise those who maintain high standards or demonstrate consistent improvement. 

Keen to lend his support to the school’s efforts, Mr Stuart arranged an opportunity for a group of students to visit the Palace of Westminster as part of a rewards package which also included complimentary travel courtesy of Hull Trains. 

Stuart Jones, managing director of Hull Trains, said: “At Hull Trains, we’re proud to support opportunities that inspire young people and broaden horizons. Supporting Withernsea High School’s trip to London reflects our commitment to helping students learn beyond the classroom. As we embark on our 25^th year of operation, connecting communities is at the heart of Hull Trains - creating opportunities for growth, education, and inspiration. We’re pleased to have played a part in a memorable day.”

Harriet Elvidge said: “The students were excellent representatives of the school and I am extremely proud of them. The trip was a surreal but fantastic experience, and to have lunch with Graham on the terrace at Parliament, sat amongst other MPs and dignitaries, was a huge privilege. This is an experience that I’m sure our students will remember for a long time to come.

“I am extremely grateful to Graham for his support of our attendance incentives programme and for making this trip a reality. I would also like to thank Sam Bellamy for his comprehensive and interesting tour of the Palace of Westminster, and the team at Hull Trains for generously providing our group with complimentary first class travel.”  

Throughout the current academic year, students demonstrating excellent or improved attendance have been recognised during celebration assemblies and rewarded as part of the attendance incentives programme. Termly competitions have worked alongside ad-hoc giveaways to maximise impact throughout the year - rewarding consistently strong attenders and encouraging improvement in others.

To date, prizes for individual students have ranged from school canteen ‘fast-passes’ to Hull FC tickets and Amazon gift vouchers. End-of-term celebration events have also rewarded top attending tutor groups with opportunities to enjoy complimentary breakfast buffets.

In a fortnight’s time, the year’s incentives programme will culminate in an end of year grand prize draw. Every week that a student has achieved 100% attendance, they have been issued with a raffle ticket for one entry into the draw. The more weeks they have attended in full, the more entries they will have in the final draw for a chance to win a range of prizes from iPads to AirPods and gaming technology.

Harriet added: “Strong attendance is crucial for success and, as an attendance team, we strive to highlight its importance. To help achieve this, the school’s governing body has allocated funding within our main rewards budget to help celebrate those who demonstrate excellent or improved attendance. Our data shows a marked improvement thanks to these efforts, with students not only responding well to prize incentives but also recognising the true value and importance of attending school.

“In support of these efforts we are also grateful to have received the backing of numerous local businesses who have recognised the value in what we’re aiming to achieve and donated prizes to help incentivise and reward improved attendance.”

Beci Pindar, deputy headteacher, said: “Establishing good attendance habits for all of our students is really important and, as a school, we work hard to promote the message that attendance matters. Our staff continue to work closely with students who may face barriers to attending school regularly, ensuring they receive the support they need. This is reinforced by communication with parents and carers about their child's attendance.

“We are incredibly proud of our students for their dedication and thank all parents and carers for their ongoing support. We are very aware of how families play a vital role in ensuring good attendance and we value this support. Simple steps that can be taken include encouraging a consistent morning routine to ensure punctuality and scheduling medical appointments outside of school hours whenever possible.”

ABOVE: Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart with attendance reward winners (left to right) Molly, Lucy, Charlotte and Amelia. The group joined the MP for lunch on the Thames-side terrace at the Palace of Westminster.

ABOVE: The group received complimentary first class rail travel to and from the capital thanks to the generous support of Hull Trains. 

ABOVE: Going Underground - The students experienced the hustle and bustle of the capital's tube network as they travelled around central London. 

ABOVE: The students were given a tour of the Houses of Parliament and enjoyed learning about their history.

ABOVE: The group visited Westminster landmarks including Horse Guards Parade on their way to Parliament.

ABOVE: Time for a selfie! The students stopped for a quick photo with trip chaperones Mrs Elvidge and Mrs Hopper. 

ABOVE: The students visited the world-famous Hamleys toy shop on Regent Street. 

ABOVE: While at Hamleys, the students got to grips with some magic tricks, 

ABOVE: Further retail therapy followed at Leicester Square as the students visited the M&M and LEGO stores. 

ABOVE: Back at Kings Cross station, the group were beamed live to New York through a portal connecting London with residents of The Big Apple. The portal is in support of upcoming Amazon film, 'Heads of State'. 

ABOVE: Homeward bound: The students head home on Hull Trains after a 'first class' day in the capital. 

ABOVE: School attendance officer, Harriet Elvidge, with Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart during his visit to the school in March. Mr Stuart lent his support to the school's attendance incentives programme by offering a visit to the capital and a tour of the Houses of Parliament as a reward for top attenders.