Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School

Year 6's Trip to the Houses of Parliament

Year 6 travelled into Westminster and walked around the Palace of Westminster, otherwise known as the Houses of Parliament. They enjoyed a picnic lunch in Victoria Tower Gardens before entering the education centre where they started their tour. The tour took them into the House of Lords where they learnt about how the role of the Queen and how laws are made. They found out about why Lords are needed to check the laws. They learnt about why the Queen isn’t allowed in the House of Commons and all about King Charles I and also stood in St Stephens hall and heard all about how the suffragettes chained themselves to statues. They also learnt about Guy Fawkes. The tour also took them into the gallery overlooking the House of Commons where they heard part of a debate about Govia Thameslink. They stood on the steps in the oldest part of the Palace, Westminster Hall where Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama have both stood.

They then returned to the Education centre where they had a philosophical debate, discussing whether different rules and decisions were fair or unfair. Then they watched a 4D presentation about the suffragettes and how they campaigned for women’s right to vote.
 
The children were lucky to have a visit from Matthew Offord who answered some of the children’s questions, including about his opinion of the Govia Thameslink takeover, Brexit and whether football should have come home this year. Following this, Lord Levy came to see the children, he chatted to the children about what they had seen and learnt throughout the day and answered some of the children’s questions. The children thanked him for the message sent to wish them luck at their Leavers’ assembly.