Years 5 & 6 pupils at Oak Field Primary have held a ‘mock Parliament’ with local MP, Alun Cairns. The session was designed by the Vale MP to demonstrate to the children how a Bill is taken to Parliament.
Pupils played the role of MPs and Peers, as they followed the process of taking two Bills through Parliament, one Bill on the ‘Provision of School Holidays’ and the second on ‘Banning Non-Recyclable Plastics’ which fit in with the school’s work on environmental issues. They learned about the scrutiny and debate involved with the procession of a Bill through both the House of Commons and Lords, before receiving Royal Ascent and becoming legislation.
Mr Cairns also visited classes throughout the school, from Year 3 to Year 6, to discuss their work on environmental issues and held mini debates about how we can best protect our planet. The classes told Mr Cairns about the issues that they care about most and learned about what actions have been taken in Parliament to support the environment.
The Vale MP said, “I really enjoyed visiting Oak Field Primary to hold the Mock Parliament session. It’s a great way to demonstrate to pupils how the Parliamentary process works and they really engaged with it. It was also useful to learn about their ongoing work on the environment. I will be going back to London with messages for the Prime Minister on what the children at Oak Field want to see, such as greater protection of trees.”
Oak Field Teacher Mr Chapman said, “The children and staff at Oak Field were thrilled to welcome Mr Cairns to the school. It was great for the children to find out how parliament works and what it has done on a variety of environmental issues. They were also pleased to give their views on what should be done. Mr Cairns also chaired a mock parliamentary debate on the subject of single use plastics. It was a terrific morning and really taught the children so much.”
