Minister to meet MP over pupil bereavement

COLNE Valley Labour MP Thelma Walker has secured a meeting with Education Secretary Gavin Williamson to discuss support in schools for pupils who suffer bereavement and loss.

Former head teacher Mrs Walker raised the issue in the House of Commons during Education Questions.

She told MPs that many young people who suffered bereavement and trauma often don’t get the appropriate support and bereavement counselling they need.

Mrs Walker told the Examiner: “We’ve recently had GCSE and A-Level results days, and while lots of our local schools and students did incredibly well, it is unfortunately the case that some students were undergoing these exams at times of great personal difficulty without adequate support.

“I lost my own father right before my A-Level exams so this is an issue that is particularly close to my heart.

“There are some procedures in place, but they do not go far enough and do not recognise the long lasting impact that bereavement can have on a child.

“And too often students aren’t aware that they exist and aren’t supported to access them – or they miss out by a tiny margin. There are heartbreaking stories of children whose parent died a week too early for them to be entitled to any support at all.

“This is not an issue in any one school, but across my constituency and across the country. I’m glad that the Secretary of State has agreed to meet with me to discuss what can be done to support students who are going through such a sad and difficult time.”