St Charles Catholic Primary School in Spennymoor welcomed a range of special guests this week as part of activities designed to help pupils learn more about different careers and professional experiences.
The school extended its thanks to everyone who gave their time to speak with children and share insights into their working lives, helping pupils broaden their understanding of future career opportunities.
A highlight of the week came on Friday when Alan Strickland, MP for Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor, visited St Charles Catholic Primary School to talk to pupils about his role and responsibilities as a Member of Parliament.
During the visit, Alan met with the school council to learn about their achievements over the past year. He also toured the school, visiting classrooms and speaking with pupils about what they are learning and their experiences in school.
The visit concluded with a whole-school assembly, where the MP used banners to recreate the atmosphere of the House of Commons chamber. This gave pupils an engaging introduction to parliamentary life and helped them understand how discussions take place in Parliament.
Children were keen to take part, standing to ask questions in a similar way to Members of Parliament during debates. The assembly provided an opportunity for pupils to develop their confidence while learning more about public service and democracy.
Before the visit ended, members of the school’s social media team interviewed Alan, asking questions about topics including fake news, managing social media and the ban on social media for under-16s.
Headteacher, Lisa Thompson, said:
“We are incredibly grateful to all of the visitors who joined us this week to talk about their careers. We would particularly like to thank Alan Strickland for taking the time to visit our school, meet our pupils and share his experiences. The children enjoyed asking thoughtful questions and learning more about the role of a Member of Parliament.”
The visit formed part of the school’s ongoing commitment to providing enriching experiences that help pupils connect classroom learning with the wider world, while inspiring them to think about their own futures.