Continuing his round of visits under the auspices of the excellently organised Lord Speaker’s “Peers in Schools” Outreach Programme, Alistair Lexden went on March 21 to the Ursuline Academy in Ilford and then on to the nearby Chadwell Heath Academy in Romford. At the first school he spoke to some 200 girls and members of staff; at the second he answered questions from a number of younger pupils over lunch and then talked to a group of around 30 sixth-formers.
During the three lively sessions pensions, Michael Gove’s education reforms, wider access to top universities and the need for better vocational training were among the topical issues that were brought up by students in addition to numerous and varied questions on the composition, role and reform of the Lords—which, many thought, would be strengthened if more women and younger people were appointed to it.