On December 2, Alistair Lexden completed a series of visits under the aegis of the Lord Speaker’s “Peers in Schools” Outreach Programme.
The visits took him to five schools in Essex - three in Ilford and two in Westcliffe-on-Sea - all of them thriving under first-rate teaching staff. Altogether he addressed over 300 sixth-formers about the role of the House of Lords in Britain today and the way in which the active members of it carry out their work. A special Powerpoint presentation prepared by the Lord Speaker’s Office formed the basis of his talks. Lively discussions ensued in each of the schools with questions on Brexit vying in numbers with those on the Lords itself.
This outreach programme, in which many peers participate, makes a vital contribution to increasing understanding of the part played by the Lords among young people. A range of briefing materials is provided to the schools themselves to use both before and after the visits. They include social media channels (for those more attuned to these great features of life today than Alistair Lexden himself!).