A MUM from Whitehaven has joined an illustrious and select group including footballer Marcus Rashford and Malala Yousafzai by winning a prestigious Fred and Ann Jarvis award.

Julie Rayson, now deputy mayor of Whitehaven was a parent at the troubled school when she and others formed Whitehaven Academy Action Group in 2016.

She was nominated by NEU’s Cumbria District. The award 'recognises the central role you played in the campaign to expose and challenge Bright Tribe Trust’s management of the Whitehaven Academy. The campaign also drew attention to wider issues in the trust’s management and in so doing exposed some of the worst excesses of academisation'.

Marcus Rashford. Photo: PA

Marcus Rashford. Photo: PA

Mrs Rayson said: “The school was in a terrible state. It was very badly managed by the trust that operated it. The building needed maintenance. There were even windows that could not be opened.

“I was concerned as a mother so we challenged them. I even went and spoke in Parliament abut the state of the school and we won.The trust folded.”

And, though she no longer has children, now deputy mayor, she is delighted at the success of the campaign.

Victory: A new Workington Academy is being built and, inset, Julie Rayson has been awarded for the major part she played

The Fred and Ann Jarvis award is given by the Executive Committee of the National Education the example and commitment to education shown.

The award is named after General Secretary, Fred Jarvis, and his wife, Anne Jarvis, a lifelong NUT member and former chair of the education committee for Barnet Council, who died in 2007.

The inaugural award, in 2008, was made to Margaret Tulloch for her work in supporting comprehensive education. Subsequent recipients have included the former Children’s Laureate, author Michael Rosen; Professor Robin Alexander; author and journalist Melissa Benn; Malala Yousafzai; children’s author Allan Gibbons; and education journalist Warwick Mansell - and Marcus Rashford in 2021.

“And me - a mother from Whitehaven. I was delighted and really honoured to be in this company.”

She was actually the 2020 winner of the prize and has known since last year.

“Because of Covid the NEU could not hold its annual conference, so I was asked not to tell anyone until they had released the names this week.”