MP Visit

Dartford MP Visit During UK Parliament Week

We were delighted to welcome Jim Dickson, MP for Dartford, to the school this week for an insightful session with our Student Voice representatives and Post-16 Global Politics students. His visit was a key highlight of our activities marking UK Parliament Week (UKPW), an annual nationwide initiative aimed at raising awareness of how Parliament works and how citizens can get involved in democracy.

Mr. Dickson dedicated his time to discussing his role, the democratic process, and providing an update on key developments and issues facing the Dartford constituency, bringing the themes of UKPW to life for our students.

Bringing Parliament to Life for Students

The visit provided a powerful, real-world connection to the concepts our students are exploring in the classroom, perfectly aligning with the spirit of UK Parliament Week.

• Democratic Engagement: Mr. Dickson outlined his responsibilities, emphasising the importance of constituency work—listening to residents and local groups—and linking these local needs to debates and decisions in Westminster. This showcased how the representative democracy students learn about translates into an MP's daily responsibilities.

• Key Local Updates: The discussion covered various topics of local interest

• Direct Questioning: The students engaged in a lively Q&A session, posing thoughtful questions about recent proposals. This exercise was a fantastic opportunity for them to practise being active citizens and hold their elected representative to account—a core goal of UK Parliament Week

We thank Mr. Dickson for taking the time out of his busy schedule during UK Parliament Week to speak to our students. His visit has undoubtedly fostered a deeper understanding of the democratic process and inspired our students to become more engaged and informed citizens.