Politics Opportunities
By Ballyclare High School on 11 March, 2021
Our A level Politics students have been involved in lots of online learning events in the last week.
Queens University held the Annual A level Conference entitled this year Government and Politics in Turbulent Times. There were lectures on USA, Britain, NI and Political Power and gave pupils an insight into studying Politics at University.
On Wednesday 3rd March Year 13 and Year 14 studying A Level Government and Politics pupils took part in the Queen’s University Annual A Level Conference entitled – Government and Politics in Turbulent Times. It was organised by the School Of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics. There were lectures on the USA, Britain, N Ireland and Political Power. It was an excellent event and also gave pupils an insight into studying politics at university.
On Friday 5th March, the Year 13 AS Government and Politics pupils took part in an online learning event with the House of Lords. This gave the students an opportunity to meet and ask questions to a member of the House of Lords, which was very helpful for their study of the UK Parliament. We got to talk to Lord Best who has been a member of the House of Lords since 2001 and is a Crossbench Life peer. The discussion was excellent and extremely informative and the pupils asked Lord Best a range of very good questions.
On Wednesday 10th March, fifteen Year 13 pupils got an opportunity to take part in an online Q & A session with Leo Varadkar, the former Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach) and current the Deputy Head of Government (Tánaiste), Minister for Trade Enterprise and Employment and leader of Fine Gael. The was as a result of the school’s involvement in the North South Post Primary Schools Civic Action Programme, which is an initiative of Politics in Action and Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation. We meet with one other school from N Ireland and two from the Republic of Ireland and have been discussing some important issues surrounding Identity, responding to the COVID pandemic, Mental Health and Brexit. In yesterday’s event each school was allocated two questions. Sara Wilson and Josh Laney got the opportunity to ask about the plans for economic recovery and about government ideas to help young people’s mental health. It was an excellent event and a great opportunity for the pupils.
Meeting with Irish Tánaiste Leo Varadkar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eKysl7tRO4
