On 11 December Tom Levitt presented Thornsett School with a Film Club Star Award for the enthusiastic way in which pupils and school have embraced the Film Club initiative.

Fim Club is a national project involving 2,000 schools across Britain. Free films are shown every week after school - and half the children at Thornsett School have attended at least one showing in the past 12 months.

The school's Film Club organiser, Margaret Williamson, said "We have made brilliant progress in a short time, not only with the depth of pupil involvement but in the way they have developed a greater understanding of film."

Tom Levitt said "I am impressed with the way the choice of popular and more obscure but worthy films has been used to support learning about different times and places. Film enables people to explore the future as well as the past and complements the creative writing part of the school's curriculum."

Mr Levitt revealed that when he was at school The Jungle Book had been one of his favourite films. After watching a clip with the children, the MP answered questions from the 7 to 11 year olds about this and other aspects of film and politics. Film Club is sponsored by the UK film industry.