Year 6 visit Parliament

On Tuesday, Year 6 enjoyed a fantastic day out in London. It began early for many, meeting in the Junior School Hall at 7.30am so that we could take the minibus to Bristol Temple Meads and catch a train to Paddington. Following more travel in the form of the underground, we arrived at Westminster in time for our guided tour.

Our introduction included the Speaker's procession in the Central Lobby when the Sergeant-at-Arms, carrying the mace, entreated, "Hats off strangers!" Entering the chamber of the House of Lords we appreciated the magnificence of Pugin's designs and the opulence of the royal throne covered in gold leaf. The children thoroughly enjoyed feeling the living sense of history throughout the Palace of Westminster, the Tudor portraits and Armada frescoes in particular. We sat in a debate in the House of Commons and listened to the Secretary of State for International Affairs field some difficult questions about Britain's relationship with president Putin. Westminster Hall impressed with its size as well as knowing that it had been built almost 1000 years ago, that Henry VII had played real tennis there and that it was the scene of Charles I's trial.

Back to Portcullis House where we enjoyed a tutorial on the making of laws and the journey of a Bill through the House of Commons to the House of Lords, through its amendments until it is passed and signed by the monarch. The children came up with their own idea for a law and they debated whether the state should provide housing for the homeless.

Charlotte Leslie, MP for Bristol North and West and Old Badmintonian, came to talk to the girls. she was inspirational in her belief that from a young age she knew she wanted to change things that she believed to be wrong. She advised the girls to study hard at what they really enjoyed and not to be afraid to ask to achieve your goals.

After a (quite) balmy picnic lunch in St James's Park we went to the Cabinet War Rooms where we listened, through individual handsets, to the day to day workings of Winston Churchill's government during the Second World War. The girls were amazed that at the end of the war the lights were switched off and the place left untouched for many years. A hoard of precious rationed sugar was even found in the drawer of one of the desks.

We marched along the Mall, dropped in at Downing Street for a photograph and saw the Household Cavalry and Queen's cavalry on duty at Horse Guards Parade. A quick stop in the café under Trafalgar Square to re-energise and we were off again, this time to the National Portrait Gallery where different groups looked at a range of portraits from the Tudor and Stuart monarchs to modern works by Grayson Perry.

Rush hour on the underground and we were back at Paddington, very hungry. The girls enjoyed buying their own supper then boarding the train west. We arrived back at school at 9.15pm, tired but having enjoyed the very busy day.

Mrs Cotterell