A Conservative MP has hailed a Cumbrian headteacher as 'amazing' during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons. 

Dr Neil Hudson, the MP for Penrith and the The Border, paid tribute to the Alston Moor Federation Headteacher, Gill Jackson, who joined him in securing a dedicated bus service for her students back in October 2022. 

Currently, 16–18-year-olds must continue education or training however the council is not required to provide transport for them.

This leaves certain young folk across the country forces to choose between eye-watering travel bills or taking a negative life-changing decision. Dr Hudson publicly called for this to change in the House of Commons on Wednesday, December 13.

As a result, the Prime Minister congratulated Dr Hudson on his achievements and granted him a meeting with the relevant Minister to make progress on this issue.

He said: "We expect our young folk to remain in education or training until they are 18, but many lack transport to get there.

"With the amazing Headteacher of Alston Moor Federation, Gill Jackson, I secured funding from the Council to get her students to college, and pressed the council for a half a million pound bursary scheme to extend youth travel more widely.

For too long post-16 transport has been a real roadblock in the outcomes for young people. I have been clear and consistent that this must change, and having secured a meeting with the relevant Ministerial team, I am optimistic progress is coming.

"We simply cannot accept a situation where children are forced to make negative life-changing decisions as a result of limited transport access and am confident we can unlock growth and level up the whole country by remedying this. 

"I thank the Prime Minister for echoing my congratulations to Gill Jackson for her hard work and wishing her well in retirement. Gill is a true community champion who has given so much to improve the lives of so many young people and their families throughout Alston Moor. It was an honour to be able to pay tribute to her in the House of Commons at PMQs."