Last week, I had the pleasure of welcoming students from Hartpury College to Parliament. The group of 32 Year 12 students visited the House of Commons and House of Lords as part of their Uniformed Public Services course.
The pupils listened to a talk about how legislation is made. The session also featured an interactive workshop. I enjoyed seeing the students act out a parliamentary debate on road safety, and I was impressed by the quality of arguments put forward by both sides of the debate. I was happy to round off the session by allowing the students to ask me questions about Parliamentary procedure and my role as an MP.
Parliament is a fantastic educational resource, where students can learn all about British politics. The Parliamentary Education Centre, opened in July 2015, combines the heritage and history of the Palace of Westminster with themed learning spaces and cutting-edge technology to create a unique learning experience. The Centre runs a year-round programme of school visits for students aged 5 to 18, providing a fantastic opportunity for young people to engage with Parliament and democracy.
I would encourage all schools within the Forest of Dean to get in touch with me if they would like to arrange a visit. You can either get in contact with me via the email below, or by visiting http://www.parliament.uk/schoolvisits/, where you can find more information on the workshops the Education Centre offers. Workshops do book up some months in advance, so please do give as much notice as possible.
Parliament is not just for MPs. It is your Parliament, and it is open all year round for school visits and guided tours. It is important that the next generation of voters have the opportunity to see how their Parliament and their MP works on their behalf.
I am very lucky to work in the Houses of Parliament every day, and it is important to share this with as many constituents as possible. If you would like to book a school visit, please get in touch by emailing mark.harper.mp@parliament.uk.