A Level Humanities Students Bring Learning to Life

At the end of February, a group of Sixth Form Humanities students visited London to learn more about the history, politics and economics of the UK.  The two-day whistle-stop trip took in the Houses of Parliament, the Supreme Court and Bank of England.

Lily Baum, an A level Economics student writes:

“When we arrived in London, we went straight into the Houses of Parliament.  Here we had a tour around the House of Lords and the main lobby that connects the House of Lords to the House of Commons.  We discovered more about the building’s history, art and architecture and what happens in today’s UK parliament.  Even though I’m not studying History or Politics, it gave me a great insight into how our country is governed, and the roles and responsibilities of each House.  After our tour, we met Kevin Hollinrake, MP for Malton and Thirsk, and we were allowed to grill him on local issues and get an idea of his plans for our community.

After Parliament, History and Politics students went to the Supreme Court, where they watched a live debate, and the Economics group visited the Bank of England Museum.  Here we learned how our country’s institution grew from its establishment by royal charter to become England’s central bank.  We got to see historic items relating to the banking system and economy; for example, there was a real bar of gold worth around £600,000 that we could hold, which was a very surreal moment.

Our second day began at Canary Wharf.  The Economics students walked through the impressive financial district where all the leading world banks have major offices, as it is the second top financial centre in the world behind New York.  We also visited Billingsgate Market, which is in sharp contrast to the finance HQs!  We discussed macro and microeconomics and how the economy of the area has changed over the years, as it has been home to very different industries.

To finish the trip, we visited a church where the execution of King Richard III was first discussed.  We were then given a talk about the building and the convocations that were held within those walls.”

The group also enjoyed an evening at the Duchess Theatre, watching ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ a very funny show enjoyed by students and staff alike.

Speaking after the trip, fellow student, Lydia Unsworth said, “It was a fun way to bring history and politics to life! I am very grateful for the experience.”