ILKLEY’S MP John Grogan and Labour’s Shadow Minister for Schools Mike Kane MP visited Addingham Primary School last week. As well as touring the school and meeting pupils the two politicians also had a meeting with local head teachers . They discussed a variety of subjects including funding and curriculum issues. Mr Grogan said: “What struck me from our talks was that whereas many inner city schools have certainly benefited in recent years from extra pupil premium funding this has not been available to most average sized rural schools. As a result financial pressures have almost without exception led to staff reductions.”

Mr Kane said: “It was a pleasure to speak to the staff and children who incidentally seemed to have a good knowledge of how our democracy works. Addingham Primary is a fine example of the English tradition of excellent village schools preparing their pupils to go out into the world.”