Student Leaders Visit Parliament
Student Leaders recently went on a trip to Parliament to see first hand how the UK government works. This trip enriched the students’ understanding of the Catholic Social Teachings of ‘Rights and Responsibilities’ as well as ‘Solidarity and Peace.’ At the education centre, the students viewed an interactive video on the story of Parliament, which took them on a journey through the history of Parliament and how the rights of citizens have evolved over time. After this, they were led on a tour of the Palace of Westminster by volunteers. The highlights of the tour were visiting the House of Lords, the House of Commons, the Lobby, and Westminster Hall.
Students were in awe of the Parliamentary Estate and they asked the guide some great questions about its history. Those studying Tudor history were particularly impressed by the amount of Tudor roses engraved on the walls. At the end of the tour, the leaders were met by their MP, Emily Darlington, who represents Central Milton Keynes. Ms Darlington was fantastic with the students, holding a question and answer session with them in Westminster Hall for over 20 minutes. The students asked her wonderful questions from what it's like to be one of the few women sitting in Parliament, to what will she do about the high prices for transportation in Milton Keynes. Ms Darlington commented on how impressed she was with the students and their political awareness which was a real compliment to the school.
Before leaving, Ms. Markatos gave the students a quick tour around Parliament Square pointing out and discussing the history of the UK Supreme Court, Westminster Abbey, and the Elizabeth Tower (otherwise known as Big Ben). The students left feeling very inspired and a few have said that, as a result of the trip, they are now considering a future career in politics. Thank you to Ms. Markatos, Mrs. Maw and Mr. Butt for arranging the trip so that students could have such a memorable experience. We hope that the pupils will take what they learned and apply it in their role as Student Leaders going forward.