Well done, Okey!

One reason I went into politics was because of where I came from. My mother and father left school at 15 and 14 simply because they could not afford to stay.

For them education beyond their mid teens was impossible. For either to have dreamed of becoming a scientist or doctor was as fanciful as hankering after a stroll on Mars.

I was more fortunate, winning a free place at a grammar school — I never looked back. So, as an MP, there is little that uplifts me more than seeing young people receiving a great education.

Such a moment arrived recently when I visited Okehampton Primary. Having visited dozens of my 46 schools I believe you can 'feel' the difference between the good and the weak shortly after stepping over the threshold.

Schools where children are positive, confident and well behaved and which look organised are usually amongst the best. Okehampton is judged by Ofsted as a 'Good' school. It excels with its environmental work and received an eco-schools green flag award in 2011 and I was recently proud to meet Okey's children at the Science Museum in London where they were in the last four schools nationally for the Total Green School Awards.

The school is also rightly proud of its 'gifted and talented' workshops. Okehampton Primary has had its challenges, having been in special measures prior to Hazel's arrival and she and her team's achievement in turning this school around into such a wonderful example of great education is something rather beautiful to witness — a truly outstanding achievement.

There are often reports of poor standards in education but where we get it right we should shout about it too. Well done, Okey. And from those who live in the communities you serve — thank you.