ELMS Bank Specialist Arts College is a wonderful place, concluded a leading education politician.

While visiting the Whitefield school for special needs pupils aged 11 to 19, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary Andy Burnham MP praised staff for keeping teaching standards high.

He said: “It’s a wonderful place, full of life and noise. I am not at all surprised this school is regularly oversubscribed.

“The kids are full of confidence. They are exceptional people, as are the staff. Just wandering around seeing the variety of things going on in lessons is amazing.”

The visit came two days after Mr Burnham led a debate in the House of Commons about the Government’s decision to scrap Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) grants of up to £30 a week per student.

He said that decision was wrong, as was the Government withdrawal of the Building Schools for the Future fund (BSF).

Mr Burnham said: “This school probably illustrates better than anywhere why the Government was wrong to scrap BSF.”

After the visit, headteacher Mrs Elaine Parkinson said: “Mr Burnham was extremely supportive of the work we are doing at Elms Bank.

“He had a great rapport with all the young people and really listened to their concerns about the future.

“In particular, our young people are worried about the withdrawal of EMA and the funding for BSF, which would have seen a new school for Elms Bank.”