The Teachers' Institute - an annual event - aims to help teachers develop new approaches to citizenship and political literacy lessons.
In pictures...
Forty teachers from the UK (and abroad) spent a week in Westminster experiencing the Houses of Parliament's people and processes first hand.
A teacher's view
Caleb Marwick - 2011 delegate
House of Commons
The week began with a very frank and informative question & answer session with the Speaker himself, the Right Honourable John Bercow MP. Mr Speaker was happy to answer questions on his own political career and the role of Speaker. Another highlight was the chance to grill a cross-party panel of MPs: The Right Honourable Hillary Benn MP, Jo Swinson MP, and Charles Walker MP. A wide range of issues were discussed, including the coalition and its policies, Lords reform, and the West Lothian Question.
We were treated to a session on the House of Commons in Action by Robert Rogers, Clerk Assistant to the Commons (from October 2011, Clerk of the House of Commons and Chief Executive). Rogers colourfully explained how the Clerks’ office is a vital cog in the parliamentary machine, impartially helping all parties, whips and the Speaker adhere to parliamentary procedure.
House of Lords
Further expert-led sessions on the process of a bill and the House of Lords followed, before the delegates were split into two groups. One half then went to the House of Commons for a gallery visit, while the others went to the House of Lords.
Multi-medal winning Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE began our Wednesday morning with a fascinating insight into her political career in the House of Lords. We were also very kindly invited for lunch later in the week in the Lord Speaker’s Apartments. The Lord Speaker, amongst other speakers from the week, was happy to field our relentless questions.
Around the UK
Delegates based in Wales and Northern Ireland, and a guest speaker from the Scottish Parliament’s Education Service, gave talks on the three devolved assemblies to start our penultimate day. These talks proved fascinating, and gave a timely reminder of the fact that ‘devolution’ doesn’t just mean ‘Scottish Parliament’.
Creating resources
Friday morning allowed the groups the chance to finish up their ideas for teaching activities, based on their week at the Teachers’ Institute. Each group came up with vastly different ideas about the areas of Parliament to explore, and how to do so, but the enthusiasm was evident across the board. The resources have been shared between delegates, and hopefully provide Parliament’s Education Service with something in return for their enormous undertaking in providing this incredible week’s CPD for so many of us.
Summary
The Teachers’ Institute provides an incredible opportunity for teachers at all levels of experience to gain an in-depth knowledge of the intricacies of the UK Parliament.
Expert-led talks, and opportunities at all stages to ask questions, allowed all delegates the chance to leave with countless quotes and anecdotes from those at the heart of Parliament. The more I learned, the more I wanted to learn, and this enthusiasm will undoubtedly result in better learning and teaching when the school year resumes. Meeting other teachers at all levels of experience also made the social side of the week highly enjoyable. I would recommend it to anyone!
Caleb Marwick teaches Modern Studies at Boroughmuir High School, Edinburgh
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