Pupil Parliament

The Gorsey Bank Pupil Parliament is comprised of 9 different departments, based on those of the UK government. The Pupil Parliament allows us to explore democracy in action and ensures pupils’ voices are heard on all aspects of school life.

The departments available for the children to join all focus on a different area of interest. They are:

  • The Arts Council
  • Department for Digital Culture
  • Department for Education
  • Department for Environment
  • Department of Health and Care
  • Department of Sport
  • The Home Office
  • Ministry of Justice
  • The Treasury

The children write a letter of application to the member of staff leading the department if they wish to be selected.

Once a term, the children from the Pupil Parliament will meet for the ‘Gorsey Commons’. Prior to the event, each class put forward a suggestion that they have voted on for whole school improvement. It is then the job of the Pupil Parliament groups in session to narrow it down to their favourite three suggestions to send back out for a final vote. During this process, the children develop their debating skills and experience live democracy.

Previous Bills carried by the Gorsey Commons include community litter picks, tech-free days in school and the organisation of a week of unfamiliar sports led by local sports clubs.

In 2020, members of the Gorsey Bank Pupil Parliament visited the Houses of Parliament. They were able to tour the House of Lords, hear from MPs and debate hot topics live in the Commons.

Our Gorsey Bank Pupil Parliament were awarded Highly Commended in the Your UK Parliament Awards in March 2020 for their powerful pupil voice.

The Pupil Parliament will also be supporting our school charity: The Children’s Adventure Farm Trust. Throughout the year, there will be opportunities for different the pupil department to visit the site and raise money for the charity.

You can find out more about the work of the Pupil Parliament by following us on Twitter at @GorseyCommons (or by searching #gorseycommons) or by visiting the Rights Respecting webpage.