A review by James Brand on the Trip students took to London and the Houses of Parliament.
On the 4th of March 2024, the students of Inscape House School got invited to take a trip to the centre of London as part of our community access curriculum. The plan was to tour the Houses of Parliament on an education visit and discover the fundamentals of making laws in the UK. Â
We learned about the internal system of making laws, that the House of Lords suggests what the government holds to account, and the House of Commons puts the laws into effect. It was a very sophisticated system, needed especially when organising education systemsÂ
I figured out that in a scheduled debate, education administrators get to speak with MP’s supporting the region of country the discussion is based. The building itself was draped in history, and it was my very first visit to Parliament and the Palace of Westminster!.Â
I woke up early at about 5:00am then drove with my dad to Stockport Station, where I got dropped off with the Student Council Group, then we got on the train bound for London Euston Station. When we arrived, the next step was to get to Parliament Square.
A minibus came to take us uptown. We drove past Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross, and no 10 Downing Street where the Prime Minister lives. Getting off the minibus, the group was face to face with the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben, it was a magnificent sight, and I don’t think Inscape has ever had the chance to see it until now!Â
The closest entrances were Cromwell Green and Old Palace Yard, but we were directed to a special education group entrance next to Victoria Tower. When we entered the education centre we were asked to go through a security check as the Palace has a strict policy on weapons and other hazardous items. We were also asked to hand in out mobile phones as photography is not allowed for copyright reasons.Â
The first things we saw coming in, statues of previous Prime Ministers and a dressing room for King Charles for when he attends the House of Lords. The House of Lords also has a throne in the centre of the chamber and red leather seats, where (according to Wikipedia) 792 members sit every day, including bishops, conservatives, and democrats.
 The House of Commons has much more power than the Lords, as this is where most of the country’s laws are passed down to government by the labour and conservative parties, and the chamber that the Prime Minister takes questions from the Labour Party.
We eventually walked into Westminster Hall, which is the oldest part of the Palace of Westminster. It has had many functions over the 18th century, from coronation banquets to lying in state funerals. It also holds a magnificent piece of art made of glass plates above the entrance to St Stephens Hall where thousands of men and women have been to cast their votes. The artwork reflects the women who challenged the government to bring women into the democracy we know today.
New Dawn is a contemporary light sculpture by artist Mary Branson and was commissioned by the Works of Art Committee as a permanent addition to the Parliamentary Art Collection. It is the first piece of abstract art commissioned for permanent display in the historic Palace. Measuring over six metres high, the massive scale of New Dawn is intended to reflect the size of the campaign, and the unique hand-blown glass scrolls that make up its dawning sun reflect the many individuals who were involved in the movement and the special contribution they made to modern democracy.
Written by James Brand