Schools
The partnership with Speakers for Schools is working well and since the last report the following sessions have taken place (with attached feedback for S4S)
Edwina Currie has spoken at several schools: Hazel Grove High School on 28th March 2025 with 90 sixth form students, Derby College on 26th June 2025 and Poynton High School on 14th July with 65 students aged between 14-17.
The schools feedback (Hazel Grove) included “Students loved the engaging speaker and were very honoured to be given the time to ask questions so freely and really appreciated Edwina’s honesty and candour.”
Student feedback included “This is the best speaker session we have had this year as we felt involved and part of it gaining some excellent advice and insights”
Poynton High School’s feedback included “The students found Edwina entertaining and challenging. She countered their points encouraging critical thinking.” And a highlight of the talk was “Edwina’s explanation of her stance on a range of factors from poverty through to crime.”
Ian Lucas has spoken at two schools n person and one virtually: at Darwen Vale High School on 31st March (240 11-12 year old students), andat Ormiston Bolingbrook Academy on 5th June (120 15-17 year olds) and Brecon High School on 20th June.
The schools feedback (Darwen Vale) included “The students were incredibly engaged in the Q&A at the end of the talk and asked some wonderful questions.”
Virtual talk feedback: “Interesting and unique”
Feedback from Brecon High School: “We wanted Ian to be a role model for our working class pupils and give them confidence that they too should be thinking of applying to Oxford, irrespective of their background. We also wanted him to inform pupils that should broaden their horizons at every opportunity and take up new challenges when they present themselves”.
Ian found schools he visited for in person talks welcoming. For the virtual talk he felt it was hard to assess student engagement as this was the first virtual talk he has done.
Sir Vince Cable has spoken at several schools: The Burgate School and Sixth Form on 30th April with 60 14-18 year olds, Harrow Way Community School on 23rd May with 45 15-16 year olds and Park Community School with 50 13-15 year olds on 7th July.
When asked the highlight of the talk schools’ feedback included: “The Q&A was great but overall he was just incredibly interesting to listen to!”
“Chance to ask questions and explore deeper” They confirmed the students “Enjoyed the talk”
“When connections to his school experiences were made and the explicit explanations to the lessons that were learnt.”
Sir Vince confirmed that The Burgate School had “Good questions and feedback from students. Excellent preparation and warm welcome from school.” Following his talk at Park Community School Sir Vince said “The school was a remarkable example of how to support children in a relatively disadvantaged area.”
Universities
There has been no activity since the last report but there are some sessions in the pipeline
Brunel a session with Tom Levitt is planned for politics students in November
Nottingham Trent two sessions via MS Teams are planned – one on Scrutiny and role of Select Committees 24 October – speaker tbc; the other on The Whips Office 5 December with Helen Jones
Exeter proposed sessions in New Year
Westminster under discussion
PARLIAMENTARY OUTREACH TRUST 