CDS students win art competition and meet Richard Harrington, MP

Croxley Danes students, Lisa and Connor, were celebrating this week, having won joint first prize in an art competition. The competition was set up by the Rt Hon Richard Harrington, MP for Watford, to commemorate 100 years since the Representation of the People Act 1918 and was open to students at all the schools in Watford and the surrounding area. Fortuitously, Mr Harrington visited Croxley Danes today in a visit delayed from December by snow. At an assembly, he presented certificates to other students who were highly commended before explaining the prize Connor and Lisa had won: a tour of The Houses of Parliament with their families, followed by tea in Parliament and a special parliamentary gift. All the students were then photographed with their winning entries.

Speaking at the assembly, Mr Harrington described how the art had been judged without the students' names or schools being revealed. This made it all the more impressive that so many Croxley Danes students were amongst the prize winners. He described being "incredibly impressed with the quality of the work which had been submitted from all the students." Mr Thompson paid tribute to the support Mr Harrington had given the school to help ensure that the land at Baldwins Lane was secured in time for the school to open last September. Mr Harrington then visited some lessons and saw the school's temporary home in the Clare building.

Lisa, one of our student journalists, was this time the focus of the story and described how "thrilled" she was when she heard she had won. Connor revealed that he hadn't actually wanted to enter at first, but was now really pleased that his mum had persuaded him to do so!

It was a successful competition for the Danes Educational Trust as second prize was awarded to a student from St Clement Danes School.

Many congratulations to all the students and the art department for inspiring them to enter. Our thanks to Mr Harrington for taking time to visit us today and for his continued support of the school.