Beal Student Forum Visits the Heart of British Democracy

On Monday 20th October, students from Year 7 to Year 13 in the Beal Student Forum embarked on an inspiring visit to the Houses of Parliament in Westminster — the historic centre of UK democracy and legislation.

The day began with a guided tour through Westminster Hall, the oldest part of the Parliamentary estate, followed by visits to both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Students had the rare opportunity to witness live debates on women’s health and post-16 education outcomes for disadvantaged students, led by the current Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson.

After the tour, students participated in an interactive workshop where they learned how to start their own petition — a powerful tool for civic engagement. The afternoon concluded with a memorable meeting with local MP Wes Streeting, who shared insights into life as a politician and encouraged students to “dream big and never let anyone tell you what you can’t achieve.”

Highlights of the visit included:

• Seeing the iconic solid gold chair in the House of Lords- where only the King may sit
• Learning about “parliamentary ping-pong” — the back-and-forth process of scrutinising and amending legislation between both Houses
• Standing in the same spot where Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered historic speeches
• Discovering the statue damaged during a suffragette protest, where a campaigner chained herself for six hours
• Reflecting on the significance of the 1000-year-old Westminster Hall, where Queen Elizabeth II lay in state

Student reflections:

• Amira shared, “My favourite part was hearing from our local MP. His words really stuck with me about dreaming big and never letting anyone putting  a limit on what you can achieve with hard work and resilience.”
• Harkirat called it a “brilliant day out” and urged other students to visit if they get the chance.
• Kirsty said the experience made her consider a future career in Westminster.

The visit was not only educational but deeply inspiring, offering students a firsthand look at how democracy works and how their voices can shape the future. Thanks to Ms Edgar for joining us on the trip!

Mr MacLeod