From Politics to the Playground: Local School Hosts Education Select Committee Member

Blackawton Primary School, part of Education South West, welcomed Caroline Voaden MP for a visit this month.

She came along to the school to speak with teachers and pupils.  She met with a group of Year 5 and 6 pupils to discuss what the role of an MP is, how parliament works and to get some feedback from them on some policy ideas around keeping children safe online and how to navigate social media. 

Ms Voaden has recently been elected on to the Education Select Committee.  The committee scrutinises the work of the Department for Education, covering children’s social care, schools, colleges, the early years and higher education. The Committee also holds regular hearings with DfE’s arms-length bodies, including Ofsted, Ofqual and the Children’s Commissioner.  

Blackawton Primary School has its own pupil parliament, every year each class elects a representative to feed back the pupils views to school leaders. 

Liam Fielding, Headteacher at Blackawton Primary School said: “It was brilliant to welcome our new MP for a visit this month.  The children loved hearing all about what being an MP is like and it’s wonderful that she took the time to listen to their thoughts on important policy topics.”

Matthew Shanks, CEO of Education South West said: “Many thanks to Caroline Voaden MP for taking the time to visit Blackawton Primary this month.  Everyone at Education South West is so pleased she is now sitting on the Education Select Committee and we look forward to working closely with her to ensure that every child receives the top quality education that they deserve.”