Digital Surgeries at Wellacre

Posted at 11:12 am on 15th December, 2021

Students Talk Politics

Wellacre’s History, Politics and Debating Club have taken part in digital surgeries in their P6 lesson in partnership with The Politics Project. 

In the digital surgeries, the students, in Years 7 to 11, had the opportunity to meet and speak to Councillor Simon Thomas and Kate Green MP. 

Mr Gillan, Teacher of History, said:

“Digital surgeries provide opportunities for students to really think about what matters to them, and how change is really important. By speaking to both a local councillor and their MP, many students had the chance to make their voices heard and share their views. It has created a sense that politics does matter and they can affect change by getting involved.”

  

Students asked a range of questions about the local area to Cllr Thomas including about road safety, traffic congestion, potholes, racism in the community and sports facilities. 

Following his digital surgery, Cllr Simon Thomas said on Twitter:

“I really enjoyed this. Great questions and good to see the interest in younger people about politics in general and locally. Thanks for the invite.”

  

When students  joined Kate Green, she was in the middle of voting on the Nationality and Borders Bill.  Students shared their thoughts on the bill with her, in between votes, and she talked students through the process of how MPs vote on laws. Their open discussion included questions about university fees, the future of exams, NHS funding, refugees and immigration, COP26 and climate change.

Christian, Year 11, said:

''I personally really enjoyed the surgeries because they gave us an opportunity to discuss what is going on in our country and for us to have our input and voices heard by our local politicians.”

Billy, Year 11, added:

''I liked the fact that I got to engage with politicians and see that they are really interested in what we think.”