Year 7 travelled by public transport to London for a tour of the Houses of Parliament. Following rigorous, airport-style security protocols, the visit commenced with a highly engaging film detailing the history of Parliament and the evolution of democracy in the United Kingdom.
Commencing our tour at the Royal Entrance of the Sovereign and passing through the Robing Room and into the red-decorated House of Lords, our guides explained the decline in hereditary peers due to recent reforms. After visiting the Central Lobby, the ‘No’ lobby, and the green House of Commons, the guides clearly demonstrated how bills pass between the Commons and the Lords until approved. The tour concluded in the magnificent Westminster Hall, one of London’s oldest surviving buildings, constructed by William II in the 12th century. This historic hall has hosted numerous significant events, including the trials of Guy Fawkes and King Charles I, and, more recently, the lying-in-state of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II prior to her funeral in 2022.
A wonderful trip, with the Year 7 boys proving to be excellent ambassadors for our school.
