Local MP champions inspiring Ellesmere Port school programme

Justin Madders MP has praised an innovative programme at Ellesmere Port Catholic High School which is helping young people develop their confidence, leadership skills and aspirations.

The Ellesmere Port and Bromborough MP visited the school to meet students involved in its Golden Key Society enrichment programme, which has produced encouraging results and could provide inspiration for other schools.

During his visit, Mr Madders also met Year 12 and 13 Politics students, speaking about his journey into politics and his work as an MP and Government Minister before answering questions.

He said:

"I was hugely impressed by the young people I met, particularly their confidence, curiosity and enthusiasm.

"Golden Key is a fantastic example of how schools can drive opportunity, helping students develop valuable skills, discover new interests and raise their aspirations.

"What is happening here deserves wider recognition, and I believe other schools could learn a great deal from it."

Developed by teacher Helen Clarke as part of her doctoral research at Lancaster University, Golden Key offers debating, mentoring, leadership development and other activities designed to broaden students' horizons.

The programme has reported encouraging results, with 95.7% of participants saying they had experienced opportunities they would not otherwise have had, while 67.4% reported increased confidence.

English teacher Helen Clarke, who developed and leads the Golden Key programme, said:

“Golden Key was built on a simple belief: potential is everywhere, but opportunity is not. We have learned that opening doors for young people is only the beginning. What matters is giving them the confidence, support and sense of belonging to walk through those doors and make the most of what they find.

“I am incredibly proud of what our students are achieving, and grateful to Justin Madders for recognising their potential and taking their voices seriously. I hope that what we are learning through Golden Key can help create opportunities for many more young people.”

Following the visit, Mr Madders has written to Education Secretary Lucy Powell, urging the Department for Education to examine the programme and explore whether its approach could be adopted more widely.

He has also agreed to try to arrange a meeting between Golden Key students and the Education Secretary or an appropriate minister to discuss the programme and its potential for wider use.