We were fortunate again to be invited to the Houses of Parliament to take part in a mock debate on environmental issues. Every year, the Houses of Parliament invite a select number of schools to take part in a debate in one of their committee rooms in the heart of Parliament.

Sixteen year eights represented the school and were to form part of an opposition and government, with the remaining members formed from three other schools.

After a straight forward train journey and a detour passed Trafalgar square we arrived at the Houses of Parliament ready for the 10.30 start.
  

The debate was situated in room ten, three doors down from the 1922 Committees usual venue and the room is set out in the same fashion as that of the Commons itself. One side being the government, the other the opposition. The whole event was carried out just as one would expect; with a speaker keeping order and speeches and comments bouncing back and forth between government and opposition. 

The motion was eventually defeated but this was after nearly two hours of discussion and with two amendments to the bill. This was certainly a new experience for the children and the experience is something they will not forget.

After the Commons, we went over the road to Westminster Abbey, firstly for a brief lunch on the lawn and then for a quick tour around the abbey itself. Tombs galore: Elgar, Newton, Edward I, Henry V, Elizabeth I, Henry VII and so on.

After the abbey we went to the Cabinet War rooms and this was most informative and there was close attention to detail in the exhibitions. As it turned out, this was a popular choice.

All the children had a thoroughly enjoyable and informative day, and after plenty of walking there were certainly some tired individuals.