On Monday 15th January, South Leicestershire MP Alberto Costa welcomed visiting pupils from St. Mary’s Bitteswell to the Houses of Parliament for a VIP tour of the Palace of Westminster and a politics lesson in Parliament’s specialist Education Centre.
The Year 5 & 6 pupils left Bitteswell at 6am for their journey down to London, and visited Westminster as part of a school trip to learn more about democracy and the history of the UK’s political system.
Alberto said, “It’s always a pleasure to welcome primary and secondary schools from South Leicestershire down to Parliament, and the visit from St Mary’s Bitteswell was no exception. It was great to face some tricky questions from the pupils and I was very impressed with their knowledge and enthusiasm for politics. I sincerely hope both the pupils and teachers enjoyed their visit to Westminster”.
Ms Hayley Cupit, Senior Teacher at St. Mary’s Bitteswell, added, ““Visiting the Palace of Westminster was a brilliant experience for our Year Five and Six children, made even more special by the effort Mr Costa and his team went to on our behalf. From the moment they personally greeted us, and then throughout the morning showing us areas of the Palace not normally visited by the public, they added enormously to the sense of excitement and wonder experienced by the children. It is certainly a day that our children - and staff - will never forget!”
Alberto concluded, “We’re very lucky in Parliament to have the excellent Education Centre at our disposal for visiting schools. The Centre offers specially tailored politics lessons for pupils of all ages, and also has a brilliantly immersive virtual House of Commons chamber. I really try to encourage as many schools in South Leicestershire to visit Parliament, and I will soon be writing to all schools in my constituency to again extend this invitation for this great opportunity to visit”.
Attached photo shows Alberto with Year 5 & 6 pupils from St. Mary’s Bitteswell on the House of Commons Terrace in Parliament.