Students at a Tees Valley college had a chance to find out about the work of the House of Lords on Friday 4th December when they received a visit from one of its Peers.

Baroness Maddock visited Redcar & Cleveland College to talk to students on the public services preparation course about the role and function of the Upper Chamber of Britain’s Parliament.

The Baroness, who worked as a teacher before taking up a career in politics, visited the College as part of the “Peers in Schools” programme that aims to give young people a better understanding of how the UK’s parliament operates.

Many of the students on the public services preparation course are hoping to go on and take up careers in the police, armed forces or in other areas of public life. They regularly receive guest lectures from serving members of the army and local police, but this was the first time they have been visited by a politician.

17-year old Hannah Langham-Jones (pictured), a student studying the uniformed public services level 3 course, was surprised at how important a role the House of Lords plays in the making and passing of legislation in the UK. She said: “I feel like I’ve really learnt a lot from the Baroness’s visit.  There are probably quite a few of us on the course who didn’t really know much about the House of Lords so I think we’ve all learnt something important today.  It’s also made me even more excited about the forthcoming trip to London that the college has planned in the New Year, and I’m particularly interested to go and visit the House of Lords.”

Talking about the Peers in Schools Scheme and her visit to Redcar & Cleveland College, Baroness Maddock said: “I think it is important that young people understand how the work that is carried out every day in the House of Commons and the House of Lords affects their lives.

“I’m especially pleased that the students who I met seemed to have a real interest in how the law and legislation that we pass in parliament will relate to the careers that they are hoping to take up in the future, whether that be as a police officer or as a member of the armed forces.”

As well as contributing to the debates on housing and climate change, she has also served as the Liberal Democrat nominee on the Committee on Standards in Public Life since 2003.

Principal of Redcar & Cleveland College, Gary Groom, said:  All of the students at the College are engaged in the ‘Citizenship agenda’ as part of their programme. The opportunity to meet Baroness Maddock has been fantastic for the students and this has given them a really good insight into the mechanics of Government.  Indeed many of the students are just coming up to voting age and are looking forward to being able to engage in the shaping of the future of Government.

Baroness Maddock gave freely of her time with a questions and answers session followed by a tour of the College and it was clearly appreciated by the students and staff involved in the visit.”

Pictured: College Principal Gary Groom with Baroness Maddock and Public Services students Kaine Buckeridge and Hannah Langham-Jones.