Students praised by police for post-GCSE Cleadon Hills clean-up

Selfless students have been praised by police for cleaning up up after their post-GCSE celebrations.
From left, Erin Sowerby, Emily Barker and Leah Ferguson as they help clean up Cleadon Hills on SaturdayFrom left, Erin Sowerby, Emily Barker and Leah Ferguson as they help clean up Cleadon Hills on Saturday
From left, Erin Sowerby, Emily Barker and Leah Ferguson as they help clean up Cleadon Hills on Saturday

Teenagers across Sunderland and South Tyneside celebrated the start of the summer holidays on Friday.

The evening passed without major incident – but police were blown away by the actions of  Whitburn Church of England Academy students Erin Sowerby, Emily Barker and Leah Ferguson, who spent Saturday picking up hundreds of bottles, cans and plastic cups that had been left strewn across Cleadon Hills.

The three students with some of the rubbish they collectedThe three students with some of the rubbish they collected
The three students with some of the rubbish they collected
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They filled nine large bin bags of rubbish and two bags of broken glass from the ground and also found time to recycle the cans and bottles.

Northumbroa Police Inspector Denise Easdon said: “We all know the sense of relief that can be felt when reaching the end of the school year, and as a result, we anticipated groups of young people congregating on Friday night to celebrate the start of their holidays.

“But what we did not anticipate was the incredible kindness shown by Erin, Emily and Leah, who all went above and beyond to look after their community and ensure it remains an attractive place to live and visit.

“They are an absolute credit to themselves, and I would like to thank them and all the other students across the region that behaved responsibly and cleaned up after themselves.”

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Academy principal John Crowe praised the girls for their “selfless actions”.

“I am really proud of what the girls have done, they are an absolute credit to our Academy,” he said.

“We talk to our students about being part of the local community and engaging in social action and becoming courageous advocates for change. By their selfless actions I hope that they have helped to change the mindset of those who sometimes think negatively about the actions of young people.

“They are true ambassadors for the school.”

Chief Inspector Sam Rennison said:“We were absolutely delighted with the behaviour of the overwhelming majority of Year-11 students who celebrated the end of their exams.

“The overwhelming majority of young people are a credit to themselves and their local area, and this weekend proved that once again.”