A group of 15 children from Evendons Primary School in Wokingham enjoyed an incredible opportunity to visit 10 Downing Street recently.
They were invited by the Prime Minister’s wife, Akshata Murty, as part of her initiative called Lessons at 10. The program aims to inspire primary school children by inviting them to the prime minister’s residence, and sharing the message “be what you want to be”.
The theme of these visits changes every week, and Evendons’ pupils were offered a cooking class with Mike Beaton, also known as Commando Chef.
Mrs Murty spoke to them about her own children, and how she enjoys spending her free time, while Mr Beaton shared stories from his past as a Royal Marine, and how he now dedicates his time inspiring young people to cook, and teaching them about leading a healthy lifestyle.
He showed the children how to prepare a delicious turkey mince wrap and, after the demonstration, the children had the opportunity to cook their own with Mrs Murty’s assistance, ensuring an enjoyable and engaging experience.
The lunch was followed by a guided tour of Downing Street. They had the privilege of visiting the White Room, where they had the unique opportunity to sit on the official State Chair, typically reserved for heads of state during their visits to No 10.
They also held the London 2012 Olympic torch and marvelled at the many artefacts within the residence. Notable pieces included moon particles gifted by Helen Sharman, the first British astronaut, and an impressive collection of artworks that held captivating histories and stories.
During their exploration, they also caught a glimpse of Larry the cat, famous chief mouser to the Cabinet Office, who was curled up by the window.
The 15 pupils selected to attend the visit were chosen by lottery, and had an unforgettable time. They eagerly shared their experience with the rest of the school during a whole-school assembly.
Evendons Primary School is Wokingham’s first STEM primary school. The school opened its doors in September 2014 and has been nurturing and inspiring children ever since, through practical learning and embedding science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in all that it does. Its aim is to equip children to flourish in life and to nurture, inspire and flourish.
