It was a privilege today to welcome our local MP, Mr Richard Quigley, into school to talk to students from Years 7 - 10. 

This week is National Parliament Week; a week to spread the word about what parliament is, what it does and how people can get involved. Students had already received assemblies on this topic, so Mr Quigley's visit was a fantastic way to bring this to life for the students and allow them the opportunity to ask questions. 

Mr Quigley started by sharing a bit about his background and his route to becoming an MP. Students were surprised to find out that there are no qualification requirements for MPs: you just need a voice and a desire to make positive contributions and change within your constituency and the country. He also shared what a typical week looks like for him as an MP.

Next, he shared a bit about what it is like in the House of Commons and how debates and votes are run to bring about changes to laws. He even encouraged students to take part in 'bobbing' when they had questions and heckling, just like MPs often do!

Students asked a range of interesting questions about parliament, the role of MPs and Mr Quigley's opinions on local and national matters. 

We are very grateful to Mr Quigley for giving up his time to visit us and for making the subject of politics fun and engaging. Many of our students are now very keen to visit parliament, so watch this space for possible future trips!