Preparing For Adulthood – Parliament and 10 Downing street

On Friday 24th April, we took our Year 11, KS5 and members of the school council to Westminster for a visit to UK Parliament and 10 Downing Street.

Due to the train strikes, we travelled by school minibus and coach into London, enjoying the sights along the way before parking in Dean’s Yard at Westminster Abbey. We then walked to the Education Centre at the Palace of Westminster, completing security checks before being greeted by our two tour guides.

We made our way through the winding corridors of the building, seeing areas that had been damaged during The Blitz, which really brought history to life. Entering the Houses of Parliament was a real highlight, as we walked through the stunning halls and saw huge paintings of historic moments such as the signing of the Magna Carta, learning so much from our guidesas we went.

Outside the House of Commons, we saw statues of well-known Prime Ministers including Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher and David Lloyd George, and heard about the impact they had on the country. We then entered the House of Commons itself, walking through the rows of green benches and hearing how key issues are debated and laws are passed.

We also visited the incredible Westminster Hall, where Henry VIII once held banquets, and where Queen Elizabeth II lay in state more recently.After this, we walked through the busy London streets to 10 Downing Street, completing another security check before being guided by a member of the Prime Minister’s team. We were able to see the exterior of his home and workplace and stand at the most famous door in the UK. A real highlight for everyone was being greeted by Larry, the Chief Mouser of Number 10, and even catching glimpses inside as the door opened throughout our visit.

This was such an incredible day, giving our pupils the opportunity to experience first-hand how politics and democracy work in the UK. We were so proud of how they represented our school; it was a real pleasure to see their curiosity, hear the thoughtful questions they asked, and watch them engage so confidently in such powerful institutions. Our pupils were a credit to our school, and it was a joy to share this experience with them. We hope to make this trip a yearly experience for future pupils, continuing to show them that democracy is for everyone and that their voices matter, even in the most powerful places in our country.