The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Baroness visits school’s pupils
A MEMBER of the House of Lords discussed life as a baroness with pupils from Jack Hunt School.
Baroness Janet Cohen of Pimlico made a two-hour visit to the school in Ledbury Road, Netherton, on Friday morning.
While there she discussed politics, the role of the House of Lords and their intention to raise student awareness on pressing issues.
The visit was organised by the Peers In Schools programme, which launched in 2007 and sees members of the upper house visit pupils all over the country.
Jack Hunt School’s personal de- velopment education (PDE) teacher Emily Morgan showed the baroness around the school and introduced her to head boy George Chung and head girl Georgia Evans.
Baroness Cohen then gave an hour-long talk to approximately 125 Year 12 and 13 pupils.
Mrs Morgan said: “The idea was to make politics more accessible to students.
“There were lots of questions from pupils. They were interested in how to improve voter turnout and how politicians can engage with young people.
“I think the pupils were really engaged with it. It was a good opportunity to meet somebody you wouldn’t normally have access to.”
The scheme is managed by the Lord Speaker’s office, as part of the House of Lords outreach programme.
Since 2007, there have been over 500 school visits, with Members talking directly to around 30,000 pupils.
Baroness Cohen is also a lawyer and crime fiction writer, and was a governor of the BBC between 1994 and 1999.
There is more information about the Peers In Schools programme at www.parliament.uk.