School Council visit Palace of Westminster

Queen Eleanor Primary School children had a chance to see democracy at first hand this week. The Chairman and Secretary of the 11 strong School Council emailed Dr Starkey, MP for Milton Keynes South East and arranged to hold their June meeting in the Houses of Parliament.
The children enjoyed a tour round the Palace of Westminster, which included the House of Lords and the House of Commons. They followed the route the Queen takes each November to read her speech – except the Queen isn’t allowed in the House of Commons!
Dr Starkey met the party in the House of Commons and were taken onto the Members Terrace. Just as the bell in Big Ben rang 12.o’clock we crossed an inner courtyard and into a comfortable office in Portcullis House. There the children quizzed the MP about her job and told her about the workings of their School Council. We then walked up Whitehall pausing to look at Downing Street, went across Horse Guards Parade to lunch in St James Park. After lunch there was a chance to see Buckingham Palace before the coach ride home.
The children were accompanied by the Learning Mentors, Karen Brammer and Linda Harrison, who help with the School Council, Brin Carstens, Chair of Governors and Mayor of Milton Keynes and Brian Kite, Headteacher.