A group of 20 Lower Sixth History and Politics students recently enjoyed a real-life insight into the legislative workings of the country on a trip to Parliament, Westminster and Whitehall on Thursday 29 June.
The day saw the boys observe both the House of Commons, where a debate on fishing policy was taking place, and the House of Lords, who were debating violence against women and girls. The boys also got to witness select committee discussions covering a wide range of interesting issues. After seeing the legislature in action, the boys toured Parliament Square, stopping at the statue of Millicent Fawcett, before moving on the Supreme Court, Downing Street and numerous Government departments.
Lower Sixth Former Ben Smith said afterwards, “The trip really helped me visualise and understand the parliamentary system, as well as how the House of Lords and House of Commons work together. Mr Vann was an expert on the history behind the Houses of Parliament, which made for a fascinating tour.”
Ben went on to say, “The best part of the trip was seeing the House of Commons. It’s such a historic chamber and, having seen it on the news for years, it felt surreal to see it in person. I also really enjoyed sitting in on a select committee hearing. It was fascinating to see a real debate and discussion on issues that we may never even consider.
The boys were guided by Mr Vann, a former lobbyist for the music industry and also a respected local councillor, who shared his insights into political lobbying as they toured.
Mr Vann explained, “This is a unique opportunity to see law-making in action and understand better the complex relationship between the different branches of Government – defined almost physically in Westminster. It supports a key part of the students’ A-Level course, but also gives them a wider understanding of how laws are made. It is a great trip, which we now undertake every year with our Lower Sixth Form students.”
