Lord Jordan encourages Claverdon School pupils to grasp opportunities

Having raised considerable sums for Comic Relief in the morning with activities including a treasure hunt, sponsored walk and throwing wet sponges at a teacher, pupils and staff later welcomed Lord Jordan who visited the school as part of the Lord Speaker’s Peers Into Schools Programme.

Headteacher Kate Gover said: “Lord Jordan was amazing.

“He came into the school hall where children and staff were ready to listen to his talk and when he got to slide number 2 of his PowerPoint presentation he went completely off message to tell us about his very interesting life.

“This was much more lively and accessible to his audience who already knew quite a bit about the workings of Parliament.

“He is such a great orator and motivational speaker.

“Throughout his talk he kept relating his experiences back to the children, telling them that they could grasp opportunities in their lives as he had done.

“Afterwards, Lord Jordan toured our school visiting each class where children greeted him warmly.

“He had a few words for each year group.

“We paused for a few photographs and then Lord Jordan sat in our staffroom and joined staff for a cup of tea and more very interesting conversation.

“It was a really brilliant experience for everyone.”

A peer since 2000, Lord Jordan, whose full title is Baron Jordan of Bournville in the County of West Midlands and was previously known as Bill Jordan, is a Labour politician and an economist who had a career spanning the Trades Union Congress, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and the BBC.