We strive to make sure that boys hear views from across the political spectrum and, crucially, that they have the chance to challenge the ideas that they hear. In an area traditionally dominated by men, it has been particularly pleasing to hear from more women who have made a significant mark in the world of politics, from Dame Tessa Jowell MP to Arnhild Spence, Deputy Co-ordinator of Humanitarian Affairs in Afghanistan. These guest speakers made a particular impression on the boys. The department regularly takes trips to the important political sites of the capital. Notably, we visit Parliament annually and often take the chance to sit in on select committee sessions. The department also takes regular trips to the LSE and Gresham College to hear lectures from the likes of Professor Vernon Bogdanor, Max Hastings and Aung San Suu Kyi. The chance to hear from such prestigious names is often a formative experience for the boys and has directly led to, on average, more than 20 boys a year applying to read the subject at university.
‘Having watched PMQs on TV since I was young, it felt as though I knew what Parliament was like. Despite this, I was shocked by the intimacy of the chamber and, more broadly, how the building was constructed to reflect the balance of power in the unwritten constitution. ’ Jasper McAuliffe, Year 13
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