Democracy came under the spotlight at two West Norfolk schools when MP James Wild called in during UK Parliament Week.
The North West Norfolk MP visited Snettisham Primary and Heacham Infant schools for the first time on Friday - the very day the country commemorated the attempted destruction of Parliament in 1605 by Guy Fawkes and his friends.
But there were no fireworks or gunpowder plotting during Mr Wild’s visits to the West Norfolk Academy Trust schools where he saw how pupils have been learning about democracy and how it works in our country.
UK Parliament Week celebrates ‘people power’ and last year almost a million people took part to get informed using a variety of activities, from colouring to video guides of the Houses of Parliament.
“Our own pupils have revisited the concepts of democracy they went through while voting for their Junior Leaders earlier this year. They have a real interest in the wider subject and it has been the subject for discussion, specially with COP26 taking place as well. We are already looking to debate whether a walk to school week would help our climate,”
said Louise Jackson, Executive Headteacher at Heacham Infant, Junior and Snettisham Primary schools.
Pupils have been taking part in assemblies as well as using a live 360-degree tour of the House of Commons and holding class debates on the subject of democracy.
The Junior Leadership Team was elected in September and pupils had to apply for the role and tell the school community what they could do to make a difference. Members of the team gave Mr Wild a guided tour during his visit when he was also the guest at a celebration assembly.
Pupils at both schools have also been engaged with the current COP26 conference on climate change and they were part of a wide school group who wrote letters and posters to the president of COP26, Alok Sharma about their concerns.
The schools have also had strong links with the nearby Rewilding Ken Hill project which recently featured as the host on the BBC Autumnwatch series.
Commenting after the visit James Wild MP said;
"I was delighted to visit Snettisham Primary and Heacham Infant schools during UK Parliament Week. It was great to talk to pupils about my role as a MP, their enthusiasm for learning about democracy, and how it can drive change on the environment and other important issues they are passionate about. Last Saturday I was very impressed by their artwork making the case for action on climate change at Lynn Town Hall. I enjoyed speaking to them about the project and the importance of COP26.”
