This week, our Y5s and 6s were delighted to welcome Sarah Champion, MP for Rotherham, as part of this year’s UK Parliament Week celebrations.
Students took part in an engaging Q&A session, asking Sarah about some of the biggest issues facing Rotherham, how laws are made and why democracy and voting are so important.
They were particularly interested in her work improving opportunities for local families, her efforts to secure relationship education for all primary students and how young people can ensure that their voices are heard.
The children also posed questions about life in Parliament, political parties, how MPs are elected and what inspired her to pursue a career in politics – along with many more thoughtful enquiries about her role and daily responsibilities.
UK Parliament Week is a national initiative designed to inspire young people to understand and take part in democracy. As part of the event, Sarah spoke about her work both locally and in Westminster, explaining how elections give people a voice and why listening to communities is essential for positive change.
Mrs Parry-McDermott, Headteacher at Thrybergh Primary School, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Sarah Champion for taking the time to lead such an insightful and inspiring discussion. Her visit perfectly supported our school and Trust’s commitment to Active Citizenship – one of the core pillars of our Pledges – as well as our focus on Personal Development. The session brought the concept of democracy to life for our students in a truly engaging and memorable way.”
Sarah Champion, MP for Rotherham, added: “I am always dazzled by how intelligent and curious Rotherham children are; I know I wasn’t that bright when I was at school. Thrybergh Primary students gave me a good grilling on the role of an MP, things I had achieved and how they could get involved in helping their community. It was a pleasure to answer their questions and share my experiences.”
Helen O’Brien, CEO at Wickersley Partnership Trust, said: “At Wickersley Partnership Trust, we’re proud to support opportunities that broaden students’ experience and help them grow as active, informed citizens. Thank you to Sarah Champion MP for visiting one of our schools and inspiring our students with such a fantastic insight into democracy, Parliament and the importance of making their voices heard.”
The visit marked a special moment in our school’s UK Parliament Week activities, giving students an opportunity to engage directly with their local representative.
Our school and Trust remain committed to building confidence and Active Citizenship, ensuring all our young people are equipped to understand and contribute to the world around them.
Huge thank you to Sarah for coming into school for the discussion – our students found it really insightful, sparking further debate in the classrom!
