15 November 2006
MP urges all Cotswolds schools to take part in National Parliament Competition.
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown today urged local schools to become involved in the National Youth Parliament Competition, organized by the Citizenship Foundation, and sponsored by the Department for Constitutional Affairs.
In the competition, teams of 11-18 year olds are invited to set up their own House of Commons in classrooms, school halls or council chambers. Taking on the roles of Government, Opposition, and backbench MPs, they research and debate a mock bill on a topic of their choice, which is filmed. The videos are then judged by real MPs, with awards given to national winners and heat winners.Students have the chance to address topical issues of interest such as smoking in public places, ID cards and anti-terrorist legislation; encouraging political engagement, as well as developing key communication and investigation skills.
"Sir William Romneys School in Tetbury, one of the schools Geoffrey helps will take part in the competition.“Having visited schools and colleges throughout the Cotswolds, I have been very impressed by many young people’s knowledge of current affairs. However, I very much hope that this competition will deepen and widen interest in politics. This competition gives students an opportunity to tackle “live” political issues and I have written to all schools and colleges urging their pupils to take part. I understand that the winners will be invited to Westminster next July, and I know that the standard will be very high. However, I fully expect to meet a young constituent next Summer for the prize winning, and look forward to hearing their impressions of life as a Member of Parliament!"
Geoffrey has written to all schools and colleges which educate pupils from 11-18 in the Cotswolds, these are:
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown today urged local schools to become involved in the National Youth Parliament Competition, organized by the Citizenship Foundation, and sponsored by the Department for Constitutional Affairs.
In the competition, teams of 11-18 year olds are invited to set up their own House of Commons in classrooms, school halls or council chambers. Taking on the roles of Government, Opposition, and backbench MPs, they research and debate a mock bill on a topic of their choice, which is filmed. The videos are then judged by real MPs, with awards given to national winners and heat winners.Students have the chance to address topical issues of interest such as smoking in public places, ID cards and anti-terrorist legislation; encouraging political engagement, as well as developing key communication and investigation skills.
"Sir William Romneys School in Tetbury, one of the schools Geoffrey helps will take part in the competition.“Having visited schools and colleges throughout the Cotswolds, I have been very impressed by many young people’s knowledge of current affairs. However, I very much hope that this competition will deepen and widen interest in politics. This competition gives students an opportunity to tackle “live” political issues and I have written to all schools and colleges urging their pupils to take part. I understand that the winners will be invited to Westminster next July, and I know that the standard will be very high. However, I fully expect to meet a young constituent next Summer for the prize winning, and look forward to hearing their impressions of life as a Member of Parliament!"
Geoffrey has written to all schools and colleges which educate pupils from 11-18 in the Cotswolds, these are:
- Chipping Campden School (pictured top)
- Rendcomb College, Deer Park School, Kingshill School and Cirencester College in Cirencester,
- Farmor's School in Fairford
- Katharine, Lady Berkeley's School in Wotton-under-Edge
- Sir William Romney’s School in Tetbury (pictured bottom)
- The Cotswold School in Bourton-on-the-Water
- Beaudesert Park in Minchinhampton (which enters Mr Clifton-Brown’s constituency in January, owing to Parliamentary boundary changes)
- Westonbirt School near Tetbury.
