On the 15^th of January at 7.30am, 22 Government and Politics students plus Principal, Andrew Parkin, along with Kingsley Jolowicz and Melisa Tupou made the long journey down to Cardiff to the National Assembly for Wales (NAW). The trip was part of the student’s study of how Devolution operates throughout the United Kingdom. The Assembly is on the corner of Cardiff Bay in a beautiful spot next to the Wales Millennium Centre and the Pierhead Building once the home of the Bute Dock Company.

On arrival the students met by the team from the Education Centre and directed to a room where the students completed a series of activities looking at the workings of the NAW including who they would vote for First Minister using a profile of a well-known politician and a clever way of using hats to explain the powers of the NAW.  Following these activities the students and staff were led into the old assembly building where a debate took place on whether 16 year olds should be able to vote.  The students’ responses to the questions asked by the education officer were insightful and demonstrated excellent knowledge on what they had learned so far in A Level Government & Politics.

The day concluded with time in the visitor’s gallery observing First Minister’s questions. The students were keen to observe how polite the Assembly members were to the First Minister and to each other compared to the rough and tumble of Prime Minister’s Questions. Overall the staff and students thought it was an excellent trip and well worth repeating for the new Y1’s nest year. I would just like to thank the students for their exemplary behaviour throughout the day and to Andrew and Melisa for their support managing the students. The next visit by the department should be Edinburgh in June and Washington DC in October. 

Kingsley R Jolowicz - Head of Government & Politics