We were very lucky to take part in an exciting video call with Lord Norton as part of the Learning with the Lords programme. Our Pupil Parliament Department Chairs, Vice Chairs and Secretaries represented the school brilliantly and asked some fantastic questions. Here is their blog post –

We really enjoyed the opportunity to speak to Lord Norton and learn more about what it is like to be a member of the House of Lords. He explained his role and helped us understand how he helps to look at laws, suggest improvements and make important decisions for the country.

We asked Lord Norton lots of questions about his work and his life, including:

• What he does as a Lord

• What hobbies and interests he has

• His job as a university lecturer and Professor of Politics

• Laws he has helped to make

• Whether social media should be banned for under 16s

• Whether AI is a good thing for education

Here are some of the key things we took away from our interview –

• Learning about politics is important
  Lord Norton thinks all children should learn how the government works so we can understand how decisions are made and have our say in the future.

• Social media can be tricky
  He said social media can sometimes stop people from thinking deeply because everything is quick and short. He thinks it’s better to read books, learn properly and talk face-to-face with people.

• AI is helpful… but be careful!
  AI can help you find information quickly, but you shouldn’t rely on it too much. You still need to think for yourself and check that information is correct.

• Follow your passions
  Lord Norton has always loved politics and turned that into his career. He now teaches at university and works in the House of Lords.

• Be proud of your achievements
  He told us he was proud of becoming a professor at a young age, joining the House of Lords, writing books and helping to pass laws.

We really enjoyed this experience and felt proud to represent our school. It was inspiring to speak to someone who helps shape the country and to see how important our voices and opinions are.

A huge thank you to Lord Norton for taking the time to speak with us – we learned so much and will definitely be thinking more about our role as future citizens!