On Thursday 20th March, I was proud to host the Hounslow’s Promise Parliament Masterclass, where we welcomed over 40 students from Chiswick School, Logic Studio, St Mark’s Catholic School, Cranford Community College, Gunnersbury School and Reach Academy. The Masterclass was a great opportunity for these students to gain a deeper understanding of how legislation is created, how Government works and how Bills are passed through Parliament.
The Masterclass began with a brief welcome where I gave an overview about Parliament. This was followed by a presentation as I discussed the relationship between Parliament and Government alongside how the House of Commons and House of Lords are responsible for holding the Government to account, passing Bills, deciding budgets and taxes and the ways in which Members of Parliament represent the interests of their constituents through questions and debates. It was fantastic to see the curiosity of the students and their desire to learn more about the nature of Politics and Parliament.
Following this, I gave an introduction to the Order Paper and how it details the schedule of the day’s business in Parliament. This led to a discussion on the role of an MP and the work that Ministers do. We were then joined by Senior Bar Doorkeeper Sarah Binstead-Chapman who I am grateful shared her story for how she got to where she is, and gave an insight into the life of a Doorkeeper in Parliament. The presentation concluded with an opportunity for students to ask questions and I was very impressed by some of the intelligent and thoughtful queries the students had. It reinforced to me the importance of opportunities to experience different workplaces, talk to leaders about their journeys in a relatable way, and to help inspire local young people to think more widely about pathways they could take in life.
We were able to conclude the Masterclass with a tour of the Palace of Westminster through Westminster Hall, St. Stephens Hall, Central Lobby and the House of Commons Chamber where they learnt about the history of the Palace. During the tour, the students were very engaged and asked some brilliant questions about Hansard, the Chamber and the interactions between Lords and MPs in the Central Lobby. Upon returning after the tour, it was great to see students from different schools getting to know one another and discussing what they had learnt during the Masterclass.
I know that giving access to such opportunities for students takes the support and vision of teachers, some of whom also joined with their students, along with some of Hounslow Promise’s mentors and supporters who were also able to talk to young people about their goals and aspirations. I want to thank all those that attended and the teachers from all schools for making this happen, and look forward to working with leaders from across different industries, professions and workplaces to support an ongoing programme of masterclasses in the future.