I was pleased on Friday to speak to Politics and Economics students at St Francis Xavier who had visited Parliament’s Education Centre before Christmas. SFX had asked me to speak with the students about what it’s like to be an MP and to answer wide-ranging questions in a Question Time-style format. I was also asked to judge campaign slogans they had come up that could be used in the next General Election, all of which were good, inventive and had a lot of thought put into them.

I also spoke with staff about concerns around SEND provision funding and staffing numbers, a problem I am hearing from many of the schools I visit throughout the year. Tory funding cuts have hit education hard and it is students like those at SFX who are paying the price.

SFX are hoping to take more classes to Parliament later in the year and I will try and meet up with them on their visit. I have promised to return to school again and speak to them about their experience.