Abbeygate Sixth Form College in Bury St Edmunds is presented with award by former deputy secretary general of the European Parliament
The former deputy secretary general of the European Parliament came back to Suffolk - the county of his childhood - to give a sixth form a prestigious award.
David Harley, who moved to Stratford St Mary at the age of four, this week visited Abbeygate Sixth Form College, in Bury St Edmunds, to hand over a European Parliament Ambassador School Programme Award to staff and students.
During his visit, Mr Harley toured the sixth form building, visited the new XR Lab and spoke to around 150 students about his time visiting Downing Street, the White House and working with the Royal Family.
Abbeygate Sixth Form was given this award thanks to their efforts relating to a series of EU events throughout the academic year.
During his visit, Mr Harley said: “I’m extremely impressed by Abbeygate, the building is very well designed, the students are very bright and the courses are well put together - so I’ve come away with an excellent impression.”
On the ambassador programme, he added: “Europe’s future depends on today’s younger generation and this ambassador programme helps give students from the UK and all EU states the chance to talk, mingle and exchange ideas about the future.”
After gaining a degree in modern languages from Cambridge, Mr Harley went to have a successful 35 year career working in politics.
Jen O’Reilly-Turner, a teacher of German at French at Abbeygate, said: “All year we have been working towards this and it is an accolade that reflects the work we have done towards internationalism, global values, tolerance and human rights.
“We celebrated European Day of Languages campaign, had virtual link-ups with the EU Parliament, had workshops, went on trips and had a successful exchange with a school in Germany.
“As far as I am aware, we are the only school in Suffolk to be acknowledged in this way - so it’s very pleasing. The reason we have committed to this is because regardless of your politics, EU and British values are all about promoting democracy, justice and tolerance.”
She added that most recently some of their students went to Barcelona with One Sixth Form College and they are planning a French language exchange trip to Belgium in the autumn with a partner school.
And in the new academic year, colleagues in other subjects will be linking up with teachers and schools throughout other European countries to work collaboratively and virtually on themes and topics in the A-Level curriculum.
“We want our students to be global citizens and many of them may work or live in other parts of the world,” she said. “So, our goal is to keep this project going and cement more links with other countries both in Europe and elsewhere. This is an exciting time for expanding our international links at Abbeygate.”
Languages student Isaac Cowling, 18, from Bury St Edmunds, said: “It was great to get such a high-profile visit. It inspires us to think that we can get high-profile roles in the future.
“I still think it’s important that people learn about the EU even though we have left. The more we learn about the EU and politics, the more we can have our say, make our voice heard and create the future that we want.”
