Houses of Parliament

HP students enjoyed an amazing trip to the House of Commons which coincided with budget day. 

It was really busy and the students got to see the commons at work, saw Boris Johnson, were allowed to use the secret passageway that connects Portcullis house with Parliament and Ian Duncan Smith made time to see us. Not only did he come and meet us and answer some tricky questions from the year 12's about the abolition of grants he cleared the way for us to go into the House Of Commons and watch some of the debating going on after the budget was announced. 

He actually went to the security office and got us all passes (it was shut to visitors today as it was budget day) which they didn't want to give us. It really made everyone's day to actually see Parliament in action. Very impressed that he went the extra mile for Highams Park students, he had a good excuse not to as he was so busy today.

The students behaviour was outstanding and they were all fired up after the day, a real cultural enrichment and at the heart of political power. We almost forget about the two hour minibus ride into London and then back out again!