Bath MP Wera Hobhouse visited Weston All Saints Primary School on Thursday 4th January to hear from their pupil Equalities Team.
Wera Hobhouse during the visit to WASPS
With a majority representation of SEND pupils (Special Educational Needs and Disability), the group are concerned with how the government promotes equality, looking at the subject through the lens of the Rights of the Child and understanding protected characteristics.
The children invited Wera to meet with them to discuss values such as democracy, to learn more about her work in Parliament and to tell her about their work and their role as pupil equality advocates.
As a democratic group themselves, the children were fascinated by the inner workings of parliament and the electoral system.
They asked the Bath MP about how young people can get involved with politics and were interested in how they can utilise their voices to champion inclusion and equality in a collaborative, rather than combative, way.
Teacher Ellie Stone, supervisor of the Equalities Team, said: “The children loved meeting Wera and learning from her first-hand about the workings of parliament, democracy and Britain’s voting system.
“It has been amazing watching their confidence grow throughout this programme, advocating for equality for all within the school and engaging with global and national politics.”
Wera Hobhouse commented: “I was delighted to meet with the WASPS Equalities Team and was so impressed with their work, their knowledge and their enthusiasm to learn about democracy and Parliament.
“It is so touching to see young Bathonians engage with politics in such a positive way; it is essential we continue to allow children the opportunity to voice their opinions in diverse and inclusive spaces.”
