PUPILS from a Barnoldswick school with a national award for their work with those living with dementia in the community.

The Speaker of the House of Commons, the Rt Hon John Bercow MP, awarded the Speaker’s School Council Award to St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School for their Dementia Friends project, which aimed to raise awareness about dementia and to assist those in the community who suffer from it.

Six pupils, representing the School Council and E’Cool Club, accompanied by deputy headteacher Kathryn Henderson and teaching assistant Louise Catlow, travelled to the Palace of Westminster to receive their award.

Upon arrival, the children were given a tour of the building, including a visit to the House of Lords.

The children re-enacted how and why parliament had been formed and discussed the importance of the Magna Carta and why it was written.

After lunch, St Jospeh's pupils, along with children from three other winning schools, were presented with their award by Mr Bercow at a ceremony attended by Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson.

Mr Bercow commented on how the winning projects had many merits but in particular their key strength was that they looked outwards beyond their school. He was very impressed by the children becoming Dementia Friends and caring for others in the local community.

St Joseph's headteacher Natalie Wood said: “This award truly recognises the dedication and all the fantastic work our children have given to the community and particularly to the care of the elderly suffering from dementia.

"The children have been equipped with life-long skills and an understanding that will teach them that society is made up of many different groups; each group is something we can learn from and appreciate.

"As a Catholic school, we live out our values of caring for one another and the children have shown this in so many ways, supporting, working alongside, learning and being active in the community.

"All the staff and parents are very proud of our children."

After the ceremony, the children were given hard hats, hi-vis jackets, goggles and gloves and were led through Westminster to the new Parliamentary Education Centre site.

A time capsule, containing the original plans of the centre and work written by the four winning schools and their ideas on democracy, was buried as a reminder of this special day.

One of St Joseph's children said: “I feel honoured to be a part of history, it was very exciting burying the time capsule.”

“I am immensely proud of the work of St Joseph’s and their school council," added Mr Stephenson. "The children really are great role models getting stuck into projects across Barnoldswick, not just projects inside their own school.”