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Imagine receiving an invite to City Hall from the Mayor herself? Pinch us, we’re dreaming…  Luckily for students at Thornhill Academy, however, this special situation was in fact a reality.

Pupils from the school, which is part of Consilium Academies and based in Sunderland, were invited by The Right Worshipful the Mayor of the City of Sunderland, Councillor Dorothy Trueman, to be her guests at City Hall.

The exciting agenda included viewing the city’s regeneration plans and understanding the inner workings of the chamber. Now that’s something impressive they can put on their future CV!

A bird’s eye view of Sunderland’s future

Thornhill Student Council members and head students represented the school and relished a tour of the fascinating City Hall. Additionally, they received  a very unique opportunity to speak to Cllr Trueman about her new role, civic functions, council meetings, and the plans for Sunderland’s regeneration programme.

If that wasn’t enough, the final flourish came when students visited the rooftop garden for a bird’s eye view of the city, enjoying a greater perspective and a deeper understanding of how building plans will change the skyline.

Chris Zarraga, Director of Schools North East, said: “We’re really pleased to hear about Thornhill’s recent trip to City Hall. As we always say, learning isn’t exclusively attached to a classroom, so it’s fantastic that these pupils were able to see important skills, such as leadership and teamwork, in action beyond the walls of their school.

“The North East needs more key community figureheads, like Mayors, MPs, and CEOs, to offer our students experiences exactly like this, outside of the classrooms they know all too well. They are our future generation of Mayors, MPs, and CEOs.”

The invite followed a moving performance by the school choir

The Mayor invited Thornhill school representatives following a moving performance by the Thornhill student choir (singing ‘Somewhere only we know’ and ‘Shipyards’) at July’s Remembering Srebrenica event at the Sunderland Minster. The event marked the anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, which took place during the Bosnian War (1992-5).

Susan Hamilton, Head Teacher at Thornhill Academy, said: “The visit provided an excellent chance for our students to see how the skills they are acquiring through their participation in the school council can be applied in the context of local government.

“These skills include community leadership, effective communication, and the ability to engage in partnerships and teamwork.”

The Mayor of Sunderland, Cllr Dorothy Trueman, said: “It was a pleasure to spend the afternoon with Thornhill Student Council members and provide them with insight into the workings of local government. After all, they, along with their peers, will be the future stewards of the City.

“In the coming years, Sunderland will undergo a significant transformation, with the addition of new buildings, residences, and architectural landmarks that will reshape the city’s skyline.

“I was delighted to be able to engage the students, by allowing them to witness these developments firsthand and understand how it will change their community for the better.”

Thornhill Academy is a Schools North East Partner School . If you’d like to find out more about our Partner School membership, click here.

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