Justin Tomlinson MP recently visited Oakhurst Primary School to give the school assembly the opportunity to pass its very own Parliamentary School Bill.
Justin spoke a little on the campaigns he has championed in Parliament - school libraries, school sport and financial education for young people, all of which the children thought were good campaigns.
They then had to pick their favourite and whilst every campaign had its keen supporters, school sport won by an overwhelming majority.
One side of the room became the House of Commons, the other side the House of Lords. The Year 6s at the back became the Select Committee, carrying out the vital task of choosing their favourite sports stars and teachers to consult on their plans. That was where the agreement stopped. The Bill, carried by the nominated Clerk, went back and forth between Commons and Lords, with both sides disagreeing on how much extra sport they wanted and the House of Lords enjoying their power to say no. After a bit of ping-pong between the two Houses, the Oakhurst Primary School Parliament eventually passed a Bill that called for more sport every week in schools.
The Clerk then had to take the Bill to the 'Queen' who happily granted it Royal Assent.
Justin Tomlinson MP said "It was great to be able to come to Oakhurst Primary School to meet the whole school and engage them in their very own Parliamentary process. The children really got stuck in to how democracy works and how laws are made. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and I was very impressed by their knowledge of some of the issues I am pressing on."
