The man favourite to become Prime Minister next month visited TKASA

Written by Jacob Kemp, age 15 of the Jill Dando News Centre

In a two hour tour to meet students, staff and see excellent teaching in action, Boris Johnson visited the inspirational 11-18 The King Alfred School Academy (TKASA) in Highbridge, Somerset along with local MP James Heappey.

The school, named after King Alfred the Great, the founder of primary school education, has had a fantastic year since being newly led by The Priory Learning Trust and Principal Nathan Jenkins.

TKASA has had a raft of good news with incredible optimism, new funding, site improvements and the launch of many initiatives including a new school-based scout group with 100 members.

And Mr Johnson used the school to unveil his school plans – breaking the news to their Jill Dando news reporters.

He told Elijah, aged 10, that he will increase funding for every primary and secondary school to £4.6 billion.

He also visited a number of classrooms in the school and talked to the students about their work.

Mr Johnson told reporters that he had come to visit “this wonderful school.”

Principal Nathan Jenkins said “We enjoyed welcoming Mr Johnson to our school to meet students and staff.

“It has been an excellent year and we have many more exciting times to come.”

Neville Coles, Executive Principal of The Priory Learning Trust, said: “We were delighted to welcome Boris to our Trust and to our academy at TKASA.

“He was charming and generous with his time. Our only stipulation was that we must have students at the forefront of any visit - so, he answered questions from Year 5

Elijah Maxwell from St Anne’s Church Academy, (before any Sky News team) including one about seagulls.

“He then met our wonderful sixth formers to talk about school funding and mental health.

“Jack Millier was able to talk about the mental health charity 'In Charley’s Memory'.

“This was a day students and staff will never forget and it made no political statement whatsoever. We were able to make the case to Boris about school funding and he was receptive and supportive.

“Our team at TKASA were absolutely first class.”

After speaking to Boris, Jacob Kemp said: "It was an amazing experience to talk to Boris Johnson, and I was able to talk to him about what I would like to see him do as Prime Minister. I talked about more mental health awareness and a more positive outlook on journalism.”