St. Wilfrid's day in Parliament

Seven o’clock, Monday the 8^th of March on a cold frosty morning, a party of 19 student councillors, all wide awake, accompanied by 4 dutiful members of staff, set off on the journey to Westminster to meet local Labour MP John Trickett.

Two political researchers waited there to practise their skills as tour guides and our grand tour of the Houses of Parliament began. On the itinerary: Westminster Palace with angels supporting the roof beams; the broom cupboard where Emily Davison hid from cleaning duties; various statues and portraits of Prime Ministers, including Winston Churchill’s well rubbed toe; the House of Lords with the Queen’s throne, Woolsack and red benches; the door battered by Black Rod on the state opening of Parliament. Then into the Chamber of Commons, (no sitting on the green benches!), the Speaker’s Chair, (and footstool), Dispatch Box, TV cameras and microphones.

So it is a real place after all – not just a film set for the News!

The Question and Answer session in the Committee room showed everyone had been very attentive and meant everyone received a badge and pencil as prizes including Mr Maltman. Some very interesting questions were put to John Trickett about an MP’s lifestyle and salary, not to mention life inside 10 Downing Street with PM Gordon. No time for shopping but everyone posed for the group photo taken in the 800 year old Palace of Westminster (where Henry VIII played tennis and Charles I faced trial). Back on the tube to King’s Cross, up and down escalators, quick bite to eat on the station platform and return to Wakefield.

I wonder what John Trickett thought about it all?

“Jon Trickett met a group of very intelligent young students from St Wilfrid’s in Featherstone when they came to the House of Commons yesterday. They had a tour of Parliament and then received a briefing from staff in my office and the office of Yvette Cooper about how Parliament works. I joined them in what was a busy day for a question and answer session. I have to say that they were very tough in their questioning but also fair!"

(entry on John Trickett’s Facebook page)

Mr N Turner (NELC Coordinator)

6th Form Swim for Haiti

St. Wilfrid’s Catholic Sixth form College last week contributed to an extraordinary whole school effort in aid of the Haiti Disaster Relief Fund. Around 80 swimmers signed up to swim 44 miles collectively, which is the distance to France and Back from Dover. The Sixth Form’s own Student Voice panel originally thought of the idea. The students and staff at the college all clubbed together in a huge community effort filled with enthusiasm and spirit. The students aimed to swim to France and Back or 44 miles, but with the extra effort of the students they managed to swim a huge 68 miles with only another 20 miles to go before they could swim back again from France after completing their initial target. Staff at the college have stepped up to the challenge to swim the extra 20 miles required. The school as a whole has been raising money for the Haiti Relief Fund with a range of activities including a wrong trousers day last week. Josh Angell, Student at the college said “It’s been a challenge to complete the swim, but the community spirit in and around the pool and college has been fantastic, it’s not only helped raise money for a very worthy cause but it has also formed new stronger relationships between peers at college!” Andrew Daly, Director of Post Sixteen at the School said “…the sixth form students had planned to complete a charity sponsored swim event but when the disaster in Haiti occurred the students were really keen to do as much as they could to help the disaster fund. The community spirit and encouraging environment was superb highlighting what the Sixth Form at St Wilfrid’s is all about. I was very proud of all the swimmers and all the other students who have contributed to the fundraising effort”
Sixth form student Marc Ridley has also organised a week long festival of music titled “Help for Haiti” the Live Aid style festival is to feature some of the schools best musical talent and the school is now well on track to raising it’s £2000 target, which will of course significantly help the relief work in Haiti. Thank you to everyone who has supported the fund raising efforts!

Mr S Hall