I was very pleased to be invited by the new headmaster of Headlands Primary School to talk to pupils as part of their “British Values” education. Since 2014, British schools have made learning British values part of the curriculum, with the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs or none, at the heart of what schools teach.
As part of this programme, I visited the Headlands School to talk to upper Key Stage 2 pupils (ages 10-11) about these values, why they are important, and my role as a Member of Parliament.
Visiting schools is something I really enjoy doing as an MP– and I believe it is important to get young people involved and interested in the politics and society of this country from an early age. I have visited every school in Northampton North more than once in my time as an MP, to talk to children and teachers.
I also enjoyed answering questions from the young pupils after my talk – and as every politician knows, the questions put to MPs by young children are sometimes harder to answer than those asked by the likes of Jeremy Paxman!