I spent an enjoyable morning at Wensleydale School and Sixth Form, a seconday school in Leyburn. After a fun school tour I discussed a range of topics with a very challenging group of students!
Wensleydale School has a strong culture - it was evident as I walked around how team spirit and a family feel infuses the school. Some of the highlghts for me were learning how teachers are using innovative new techniques to broaden classroom participation in a fun way, hearing how English literature students were studying Milton's Paradise Lost outdside of their main A-Level syllabus and seeing a flourishing drama group studing The Tempest.
I discussed with governors and staff the particular challenges of operating a secondary school that is almost half the size of the average secondary school in the UK. It is vital schools like Wensleydale get the funding they need to remain vibrant places of learning as they are essential to students across a large rural area.
As ever the students kept me on my toes! We discussed the pros and cons of changing the voting system and doing more career counselling in schools. We also covered rural issues, the power technology and need for better conenctivity here, milk prices, and English votes for English laws. I also thoroughly enjoyed getting their input on how best to engage younger people in politics, especially how to use digital media effectively.