Lower Sixth Trip to Houses of Parliament

On 25 March, Lancing’s Lower Sixth Politics students had the opportunity to visit the Houses of Parliament. The trip began with a guided tour of the Palace of Westminster, entering through Westminster Hall, exploring Central Lobby, and sitting in the viewing gallery of the House of Commons. 

During the tour, students learned about the extensive history of Parliament, the traditions of British democracy, and the evolution of government from the earliest Parliaments under Henry III to the present day. We discovered how the building has served many purposes throughout its history: as a venue for feasts and banquets, a royal palace, and a courthouse. We also learned that both Sir Winston Churchill and Queen Elizabeth II lay in state there before their funerals. 

The visit provided some unexpected encounters with contemporary politics. We saw several politicians during our tour, including Baroness Arlene Foster, Lord Danny Finkelstein, Conservative MP James Cleverly, and the Independent MP for Blackburn, Adnan Hussain, who stopped to chat with us in Central Lobby.  

Our day concluded with a quiz on what we had learned, followed by a policy-making workshop. Working in groups, students developed policy proposals and then attempted to persuade their peers to support them. ‘It got pretty competitive,’ revealed Sinan Kayalar. ‘If that’s what the real thing is like, you can see why parties might argue so much.’ 

The experience was both enlightening and engaging, making politics feel more immediate and relevant. We returned to the College with a greater understanding of how government operates and a deeper appreciation of the history of both Parliament and the United Kingdom. ‘It was interesting to see Parliament up close,’ said Anika Mukerjee. ‘It was Prime Minister’s Questions, so Central Lobby was swarming with MPs, and it was nice to be able to put faces to names.’ 

Dr Elizabeth Keane
Head of Politics