Welsh school children welcome bilingual schools' pack - 6 Dec, 2005
Hansard Society new schools'
resource pack launched by Minister Jane Davidson AM
The Hansard Society, a
non-partisan educational charity, has developed a lively comprehensive pack to
encourage schools to build partnerships between young people and their Assembly
Members at the National Assembly for Wales. It was launched at the
National Assembly for Wales
yesterday by Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning, Jane Davidson AM.
AMs in Schools is a bilingual resource pack which helps
teachers, students and elected representatives work towards a successful visit
to their school, and provides teachers with an informative and innovative way
for young people to get a taste of democracy.
Supported by HSBC,
AMs in Schools builds on existing good practice with accessible,
pupil-centred material, giving young people the opportunity to explore the
issues around democracy and voting in Wales. Students prepare in advance
for a visit from their AM and take a leading role in shaping the visit through
their research and exploration of local community issues, the process of
decision-making and the role the National Assembly for Wales has in
everyday life.
Minister for Education and
Lifelong Learning Jane Davidson said:
"It is important that young
people take an active interest in the democratic process. The AMs in
Schools pack is a welcome resource which will be valuable in building
stronger links between schools and the Assembly Government. It will provide the
necessary information for schools, pupils and the Assembly Members to make
school visits as interesting and productive as possible."
Michael Raftery, AMs in
Schools Project Manager, commented: "The packs are designed to encourage
young people to become more engaged with politics and social issues and develop
a fuller understanding of politicians' work. They are made up of separate units
designed to be used flexibly by participating schools and are specifically
designed to capture the imagination of pupils at Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4."
Hugh Morgan, General Manager, HSBC Bank plc, Western and Wales Division said: "Promoting
young people's awareness of and participation in the development of the
National Assembly for Wales,
is important in helping young Welsh citizens to engage with the Assembly and
its political processes. HSBC recognise the importance
of local knowledge and can easily see the role the AMs in Schools pack
plays in achieving this objective.
AMs in Schools was launched on December 5, 2005. Present
were children (14-year-olds) from Welsh
Medium School
Ysgol Gyfun Bro Morgannwg in Barry, who are available for interview.
Photographs of the launch of the project at the National Assembly for Wales are
available. For further information, contact Virginia Gibbons at the Hansard
Society on 020 7438 1225 or 07812 765 552
Editors' Notes
- The Hansard Society has promoted the
importance of political education in schools for over 60 years. Other
packs in this series are MPs in Schools, MEPs in Schools
and MSPs in Schools - all available from the Hansard Society.
- AMs in Schools is supported by HSBC,
resource packs are available free of charge to every school in Wales
- The AMs In Schools project was piloted with support from the
Electoral Commission's New Initiatives Fund