Heathfield Community College celebrates Parliament Week
16th November
Politics in Parliament Week
Although the news coming out of Westminster this week has been unexpected and bewildering at best. It is as important as ever that our young people understand how politics works and that they are not put off by all of the negative news frequently shared about politicians. Young people are the politicians of the future and as part of Parliament week last week, Heathfield Community College invited a local MP and councillors to listen to the students and their feedback from the Children’s Commissioner’s Big Ambition Survey.
The Big Ambition Survey is a national survey of children and young people across England. It aims to hear from children across England on what they think is important. In the lead up to the next General Election, the Children’s Commissioner wants to take children’s thoughts, opinions and ideas to decision-makers, to make sure that the Government hears young people’s voices on what they think needs to be done to make children’s lives better in England. Within the College they conducted their own version, through PHSE lessons and as a Firefly Task, and sought to secure more immediate answers to the pressing issues experienced by their students.
They were joined in College on Friday 10 November by Huw Merriman MP of the Conservative Party and Minister of State at the Department for Transport, Councillor Christine Bayliss of the Labour Party and Councillor Rachel Millward of the Green Party, other political parties were invited. Huw, Christine and Rachel then responded to issues raised by our students who have taken part in the Big Ambition survey from the Children’s Commissioner for England, Rachel de Souza.
Topics raised and discussed included climate change and the environment, the cost of living, children’s mental health, school funding and vocational education, local bike lanes and pathways. Our students raised the topics for discussion and also brought a variety of different views into the discussion. It was really impressive the calm and respectful way the discussions progressed.
Students involved in the event came from a range of year groups and backgrounds, they learnt a great deal, engaged exceptionally well and enjoyed the debate.
One student said afterwards that: ‘We learnt about who represented us. The representative gave good answers and listened to what we said. It was a great event.’
Headteacher Caroline Barlow commented: “The range and breadth of topics raised by students was impressive, it shows they are well informed, articulate and willing to engage with decision makers both locally and nationally. Our visitors were equally engaged, modelling positive and collaborative debate. It was fascinating for students to understand the complexity of issues behind some decisions and the way in which politics works at all levels, we are very grateful to our visitors for their time and commitment to our students”.