We are very proud of our children, parents and staff who continue to campaign and fight for equality and equal opportunity for all. St Mary’s continue to work closely with Citizens UK to ensure that our voice is heard and that we achieve real change. We have joined a new campaign, building on our previous success in enabling thousands of NRPF families to access Free School Meals:

Nobody should be left behind – not now, not ever! Time to end NRPF for good!

Covid-19 has shone a brighter light on the injustices that many migrants face. Many of our neighbours are unable to access government help because of where they were born, and the immigration papers they have. This is because of a government policy called No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) that denies people living and working in the UK crucial forms of support from the government. Without assistance like Universal Credit and housing benefit, many people – including 100,000 children – are feeling stranded and left without a safety net.

​Thanks to the generosity of St. Mary's parish, Citizens UK are continuing to work at St. Mary's with both pupils and parents. Hannah from Lewisham Citizens came in to visit Years 5 and 6 to talk about what community campaigning is. To illustrate this she asked Mrs Tildesley to sit on a table. Then Hannah asked what the pupils felt strongly about and asked them to try and lift the table single-handedly as a symbol of trying to make a change. Of course no-one could lift Mrs Tildesley and the table single-handedly, but working together the pupils did achieve their task. Working together we can make a change!