Students from Teignmouth Community School attended live debates in the Houses of Parliament, and then put their own questions to a member of the House of Lords.

A group of Year 8 and Year 9 pupils travelled to London on June 11 to take part in Learn with the Lords Day, together with around 400 other students from schools around the UK.

The experience will feed into the Teignmouth pupils’ future studies at the school, which will include input from their local MP, Liberal Democrat Martin Wrigley.

The group began their visit in Westminster Hall, the oldest building on the parliamentary estate, dating from 1097.

They then went up to the galleries to watch sessions in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

The school’s Director of Personal Development and Sixth Form, Laura Milsom, said:

“The absolute highlight of the day was a private Q&A session with Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall, Jenny McIntosh.

“Our Year 8s and 9s asked fantastic, sharp questions about lawmaking, political life, and her extensive career.”

Laura said the trip had been ‘an incredible, first-hand look at democracy in action’ for the students .

“Now we are back at school we have plans to continue working with students on a topic debated in the House of Commons around youth unemployment.

“This will form part of our planning for the careers programme next year.

“We have also invited Martin Wrigley into school; he just accepted and will be working with us.

“We have an extensive Personal Development Programme at Teignmouth Community School, and this trip opportunity is one of many this year.

“As a school we feel that enrichment brings the curriculum to life and encourage all of our students to join in with as many opportunities as possible.”