Kirklees College students quiz MPs in Parliament during #LoveOurColleges Week

Students at Kirklees College received the opportunity of a lifetime when they got to visit the houses of Parliament as part of Love Our Colleges Week.

A huge thank you to the students of @kirkleescollege who visited Parliament today.#LoveOurColleges pic.twitter.com/Sg2G1niG1j

— Barry Sheerman (@BarrySheerman) May 15, 2019

11 students were given the chance to tour the parliamentary buildings, get an insight into parliament life and the history surrounding it, and even listen to one of the debates taking place.

Local MP’s for Kirklees Tracy Brabin, Paula Sherriff, Barry Sheerman and Thelma Walker were in attendance as students quizzed them on fair funding for Further Education, lowering of the voting age to 16, and Brexit.

Love Our Colleges week (13 – 17 May) is a week of activity that takes place in a bid to call on the government for better investment in colleges, and fair pay for college staff. The week highlights the brilliant work that goes on in colleges, and the brilliant staff that make it all possible.

The campaign aims to fight for funding and fair pay for further education colleges and urges the government to get behind increasing the funding rate for 16-19 year olds by 5% over the next five years.

“We were extremely lucky to be given the invitation to join our local MP’s in parliament during Love Our Colleges Week. This campaign is extremely beneficial and we fully support the work that is going on by the AoC to highlight the importance of better investment in colleges.

“It was during our opening celebration of our new Springfield Sixth Form Centre that we were given the invite by local MP Paula Sheriff. Students were partaking in a lively discussion with Paula about politics, the work of MPs in Parliament, the importance of registering to vote, and using our vote.  Paula gave an invitation to the students to visit her in Parliament to see for themselves how democracy works.

“Our students really loved their visit to Parliament and found the whole day extremely interesting and now have a broader insight into life in Parliament,” said Marie Gilluley, Kirklees College Principal.