This is not a photo opportunity
There is little doubt that MPs engaging with young
people is a worthwhile pursuit for all concerned. Ed Balls was recently
pictured on a rope swing in a playground, whilst David Cameron was last week
photographed at a school in the West Midlands.
These visits are of course prime for press coverage, but that's not to say that
they cannot also hold great value for both MPs and young people.
Arthur Mellows College in Peterborough
demonstrated just how beneficial these exchanges can be, when Stewart Jackson
MP visited their sixth form recently to discuss his role as an MP. Hansard
Society Scholar, Faith Jones, who attended the visit, was impressed by the
level of preparation that had gone into the visit, adding that every student
was well engaged and had prepared an insightful, relevant question to ask. Teachers at the college had used the Hansard
Society's MPs in Schools pack to equip
students with vital background information for the visit. It's worth noting
that the MPs in Schools pack is not
only for use by schools - it has an equally important section aimed at MPs, so
that they too can prepare themselves for the experience, because remember, this
is not a photo opportunity.
- MPs in Schools is part of the Elected Representatives
in Schools Series which includes MPs, AMs, MSPs, MEPs and Scottish MPs in
Schools. Click here for further information on this free resource.