E-news - June 2012

The Palace of Westminster at dawn

This month's features include some fantastic school council winners and visit opportunities for Key Stage 5 


Congratulations to the 2012 Speaker's School Council Awards winners!

Speakers School Council Awards 2012Four school councils have been named winners in the 2012 Speaker's School Council Awards.

Congratulations to 2012 winners Cleobury Mortimer Primary (4-7 years), Folkstone Primary Academy (7-11 years), Southlands High School (11-16 years), Priestley College (16-18 years) and all the runners up in each age category.

Thanks also to all the schools who entered and contributed to what's been a year of truly inspiring school council projects in the UK.


Apply for a Key Stage 5 autumn visit by 1 July

KS5 visits programmeThis autumn, your students could experience a fantastic Discover Parliament visit. These lively sessions are full of great content and tailored for Key Stage 5.

The programme allows students the chance to explore how public money is spent, learn how MPs balance multiple pressures and to meet and quiz prominent politicians, as well as much more.


Extra school visits available during Parliament Week 2012

Palace of WestminsterFrom 19-22 November, a special programme of visits will be available in support of Parliament Week 2012, a week of events raising awareness and public engagement with Parliament.

The programme includes the chance to visit two iconic buildings in one day and take part in an expert Q&A session with parliamentarians.


Watch a young playwright's production in Westminster Hall

Arts in Parliament cultural programme 2012You can now book to attend free arts events taking place across Parliament this June and July.

Many events and installations in this summer's Arts in Parliament programme are for and by young people, such as the performance of a one-act play on 11 July, written by the winner of the National Theatre's annual playwriting competition for 15-19 year olds.

It will be the first recorded instance of a play being staged in Westminster Hall.


History of Parliament competition entries due 29 June

Key Stage 3 students and sixth formers entering the History of Parliament schools competition should get their entries in by 29 June.

Students aged 11-14 years should submit one of two available writing challenges from the Houses of History interactive timeline. This superb research resource can be used by both KS3 and sixth form entrants.

Sixth formers submit an essay of their choice related to the parliamentary or political history of Britain and Ireland.


Politics... A definition

Quote of the month

"Politics is the art of choosing between the disastrous and the unpalatable."

  -- John Kenneth Galbraith 


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