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www.sydney-r.net The Sydney Russell School Website
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Sixth Form Students Encouraged to Register to Vote On Friday 13th March all year 12 students were given a talk by representatives from Barking & Dagenham Democratic Services about getting their names on the local election register. As part of the school programme to encourage students to prepare for active citizenship, the visitors gave a full and involved talk about the importance of registering to vote. Led by local authority expert Masuma Ahmed , the lecturers went on to outline the importance of casting a vote in both local and national elections as a way of participating in democracy and assuming an active role as a citizen in UK society. On a practical note, another speaker Patricia Nkwonta described the straightforward way that a young person can register to vote. She went on to explain the practical benefits of getting on the local election register in terms of helping those who need a credit check from different financial services. When banks or credit card companies want to ratify the details of young or new customers they use the electoral roll to confirm their details. These lively and informative sessions finished with a question and answer session where students were given the chance to express their thoughts about the need to vote or participate in local democracy. Adaku Agwunobi, an ‘A’ level politics student said, “This was interesting and informative. You know it makes me want to go out to vote at the next general election”. Mr Anderson, the head of Sixth Form and a Civics teacher, added, “these events are very useful in letting our students know of the real need to keep informed about issues and make the effort to engage with politics. This marks the beginning of full adulthood for most of our 6th form members. At our school we see this as a culmination of the work done in the lower years during citizenship lessons and assemblies.” Mr Sullivan, Director of Student Development. |
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“A” level students tour Houses of Parliament and meet local MP on budget day. On Wednesday 22nd April staff and 6th form students went to the Houses of Parliament in the Palace of Westminster for a guided tour, followed by a question and answer session with our local M.P., John Cruddas. This visit supported their “A” level studies in Modern History, Law, Government & Politics. Mrs Turner and Mr Sullivan of the Social Studies department were in charge of the visit on the day. It was a warm day (following the Easter break the week before) and our party was glad to be allowed to enter the Palace of Westminster after rigorous security searches through the newly built visitor’s checkpoint. Over the next ninety minutes our students were able to visit the Royal Robing Room, the main Lobby and both chambers of the Houses of Lords and Commons. Selected individuals were able to stand and hold on to the much-worn dispatch boxes from which the Prime Minister and leader of the opposition speak at Question Time. Perhaps the most ornate part of the palace of Westminster was the House of Lords chamber. Our group was allowed to stand by the throne where the Queen makes her opening of Parliament speech. Unfortunately we were not able to take a seat in either the Commons or the Lords. The largest room in the palace is Westminster Hall where King Charles was put on trial at the end of the Civil War and Kings and Queens lie in state in preparation for their funeral. There was an atmosphere of excitement as this was Budget Day and the group got the chance to see numerous high-profile politicians preparing for the budget speech announcements. After the tour, our party met John Cruddas and he took us across the road for a meeting in one of the conference rooms in Portcullis House on the Embankment opposite Parliament. This is where MPs and their advisors work when they are not sitting in the House of Commons. We discussed the state of modern politics and our MP gave us his thoughts about the big issues facing the country and government at present. He was able to respond in an informed way to our questions about the work of modern back-bench MPs. We had to leave him as he had to attend the Commons to hear the budget.
At the end of our visit we bought refreshments and took a short tour of Whitehall area before making the long tube journey home. As we were leaving were able to experience a lively demonstration by Tamil protestors about the civil war taking place in their country, Sri Lanka. This visit was designed to embed the learning that our students have covered for the duration of their respective “A” level courses. The school hopes to continue with this “hands-on” approach to learning in the near future.
Mr Sullivan—Director of Student Development.
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