In his final speech to Reading Girls School as Labour Member of Parliament for Reading West, Martin Salter encouraged the students to aim high and to “strive for excellence not perfection”. Mr Salter was speaking on Tuesday 16^th March at a school assembly to an audience of year 10 and 11 students plus a delegation of teaching staff on his role as an MP, the role of Parliament and the importance of education in achieving life goals and targets.

Mr Salter was invited to attend the assembly and deliver a short speech by Executive Head Teacher Marsha Elms. Picking up on the School’s theme of the week, “Striving for Excellence”, Mr Salter delivered a speech on the role of an MP and how setting personal goals and aims are important to the students’ future success. The school was encouraging its year 10 and 11 cohorts to take pride in and look to better their GCSE grades and in turn fulfil there potential. Martin told the girls how no one was perfect but what set people apart was the how they applied themselves to get a task done and reach their aims and goals in their examinations and chosen careers. Mr Salter concluded that each person should be more confident in their beliefs and be aware of their strengths and act on them to be the best they can be.  He ended with “You can be anything you want to be”. 

Mr Salter said:-

“I was pleased to be invited back in my final few weeks as an MP to Reading Girls School, which is making great strides after a difficult period. The 14, 15 and 16 year olds who attended the assembly will soon be crucial decisions as they consider their options for further and higher education or by entering full time employment. I hope I was able to pass on a few bits of useful advice on how to maximise their potential, to achieve their ambitions, and to strive for future success”.