College holds Parliamentary session and the students vote to keep Saturday morning school!

Posted: Thursday, November 24, 2011

As a part of the College's British Government and Politics course for senior students, a former member of the British Parliament spoke recently at a seminar at the College. Michael Meadowcroft who was MP for West Leeds in the 1980's told students what it was like being an MP and the way in which issues were dealt with in Parliament.

As a practical part of the seminar Mr Meadowcroft role-played being Prime Minister, while College Principal Dr Greenfield acted as the Leader of the Opposition, and all students acted as MPs. The 'House' debated whether Saturday morning lessons should be abolished, and an extra lesson added to each weekday instead. Several students took part in the debate, under the watchful control of Mr. Speaker Budd, before being put to the vote. Memorably the 'Government' was defeated on this proposal, with student 'MPs' voting to keep weekday lessons at their regular times!

The College had earlier held a practical election exercise with senior students, in which the three Sporting Houses were transformed into political parties, each corresponding to the House colour. The Red Party was successful in four of the five College 'seats', although one was on the toss of a coin. The policy of abolishing Saturday morning school had been one the Red Party's winning policies and so was debated in the Parliamentary exercise.