Lord Parry Mitchell Brings Politics to Life for Patcham High Citizenship Students

GCSE Citizenship students at Patcham High School were given a unique insight into the world of politics and law this term, both through a fascinating visit to London and a visit from Lord Parry Mitchell.

As law and politics make up half of the GCSE Citizenship course, students recently travelled to the capital to see these subjects come to life in some of the UK’s most iconic venues.

The day began at the Supreme Court, where the students enjoyed a bespoke guided tour and learned about how the court serves as the final court of appeal for all UK civil and criminal cases. Students explored the traditional and historical courtrooms and heard how Justices decide cases of the greatest public and constitutional importance.

After a quick lunch in Parliament Square, and a competitive statue quiz they made their way to Westminster, the very heart of UK politics. They took a guided Tour of Parliament, visiting the House of Commons and House of Lords debating chambers, the division lobbies, Westminster Hall, Central Lobby and St. Stephen’s Hall. Students admired the architecture, symbolism and ceremony, and met The Rt Hon Lord Levy.

The highlight for many came when they were able to sit in the Public Gallery of the House of Lords to watch a live debate on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. Peers discussed the dangers of social media and the importance of all children having access to swimming lessons, prompting students to reflect on how fortunate they are to have a pool at Patcham High.

The day ended with a Power of Democracy workshop, where students created petitions on issues of national importance and reflected on how the public, MPs, Peers, Justices and the Monarch all play a role in shaping UK laws. Students were full of positive praise about the day:

“I loved that we could sit in the public gallery of the House of Lords and hear them debate about amendments of a bill. The Supreme Court was very interesting and I loved being able to sit in each courtroom and learn about the symbolism of everything.”

Isabelle, Y11 student

“I enjoyed listening to the history behind Parliament and looking around the House of Commons and Lords.”Sophia, Y11 Student

Building on this powerful experience, students were delighted to continue their exploration of Parliament back in the classroom when Lord Parry Mitchell visited Patcham High to speak about his experiences in the House of Lords.

Lord Mitchell spoke about his journey into Parliament, how laws are made, and the current legislation he is involved with, including the Online Safety Act, the Assisted Dying Bill, and his campaign to reform payday loans. The visit provided an inspiring opportunity for students to connect their classroom learning with real-life political debates.

Not only did Lord Mitchell share his knowledge of the House of Lords, he also spoke about the different ways of getting into Parliament which helped us think about routes we could take in the future. Toby, Y11 Student 

“Meeting a Lord is a very special opportunity for our pupils. They were really interested in Lord Mitchell’s story which not only brought their GCSE Citizenship learning to life, it also showed them that they have the power to bring about the change they want to see in the world. His visit has demonstrated to our young people that politicians are everyday people, and I’m sure some of them can now picture themselves in his position one day.”

Hannah Kinchin-Frost, Head of Life Skills

At Patcham High, we are committed to providing opportunities that extend learning beyond the classroom and connect education to the wider world. Experiences like the London trip and Lord Mitchell’s visit not only strengthen students’ understanding of politics and citizenship, but also reflect our core values of Pride, Respect and Success through inspiring every young person to see themselves as active citizens who can help shape the future.