On 3 March Alistair Lexden made a further contribution to the Lords’ outreach programme to schools which is organised in the most efficient fashion by the Lord Speaker’s office. He visited two schools in south Essex: St Bernard’s High School, a Catholic Academy in Westcliff-on-Sea, and the Southend YMCA Community School in nearby Prittlewell. Two more different schools would be hard to find.
At the first he answered a stream of questions on the work of the Lords, Brexit and other current political issues from around 100 sixth-formers for the best part of two hours. Though politely expressed, many were critical of the unelected character of the Lords, the conduct of last year’s referendum, the government’s handling of the aftermath and cuts in public spending. Not many potential Tory voters were in evidence, but all the questions were thoughtful and serious, reflecting the school’s great interest in politics.
The Southend YMCA Community School, which has some 50 students, aims, in its own words, “to build the sense of self-worth and motivation of disempowered and hurt young people who have low expectations and may display self-defeating behaviours”. A couple of students and the head teacher provided a tour of the classrooms where teaching takes place in very small groups with the emphasis on practical subjects. That was followed by a session on the Lords and the workings of the political system which brought interesting comments and questions from the students who kindly asked for another visit before too long. Immensely valuable work is being done at this school to help children who have suffered trouble and difficulty to rebuild their lives and prepare for the world of work.