Baroness Paul of Shepherds Bush gives students an insight into the work of the House of Lords

Students in Year 11 Citizenship and the Sixth Form Politics classes were given a fascinating insight into the work of the House of Lords during a visit from Baroness Paul of Shepherds Bush.

Baroness Paul spoke to students about her work as a member of the House of Lords, sharing her experiences of participating in debates and contributing to discussions on important issues, including her work on the National Resilience Committee. The visit provided students with a valuable opportunity to connect their classroom learning with the work of Parliament and the UK's political system.

Following her talk, Baroness Paul took many questions from the students on a wide range of topics. These included potential reform of the House of Lords, whether the voting age should be lowered to 16, politicians she particularly admires, and her views and experiences relating to current votes on assisted dying.

The question-and-answer session gave students the opportunity to explore issues they have encountered through their Citizenship and Politics studies, while also hearing directly from someone with experience of working within Parliament.

The visit was an excellent example of how engaging with politicians and other public figures can enrich students' understanding of democracy, representation and the political process. Students asked challenging and thoughtful questions and Baroness Paul was impressed by their engagement and passion about politics! 

We are grateful to Baroness Paul for taking the time to visit HABS and for inspiring students to aspire to be in the Lords one day themselves!