Royal Docks Academy pupils witness democracy firsthand in trip to Parliament

Students from the Royal Docks Academy visited Parliament as part of their citizenship lessons.

Year Ten history and citizenship pupils watched live parliamentary debates, had tours of the Commons and Lords and took part in workshops debating the different methods of protest.

One of the pupils on the trip, Enock Kintu, said: “It was an eye-opener to see how seriously people in Parliament take their jobs. Everything is very traditional there and it was good to explore Parliament.”

Students were treated to a backbench business debate in the House of Commons, a debate on the NHS in the Lords, and they also witnessed a protest over Brexit.

They were shown the statue to which Suffragettes chained themselves, plaques commemorating speeches from Nelson Mandela and the Queen, and the hand delivery of a bill from the Lords to the Commons.

Head of citizenship Robert McGoldrick said: “The students were a real credit to themselves and to the school with their work and behaviour.”