Sixth Form students from Cheslyn Hay Sport and Community High School paid a visit to Gavin Williamson MP for South Staffordshire, on Monday.
The students were escorted by Gavin on a tour of Parliament, before being given a talk on his duties as a MP.
They were then given the opportunity to ask Gavin questions about his job and his views on a series of current issues.
Gavin was tremendously impressed by the students’ questions, which covered subjects ranging from the newly elected police commissioners to voting turnout and the repatriation of powers from the EU.
“Surely, politics is about helping the individual as well as helping the world,” he told one member of his audience, in response to a query on the nature of political responsibility.
On the visit itself, Gavin said: “It’s so very important to encourage young people to have an active interest in politics, not only to encourage them to vote in elections but so they get involved and maybe stand for Parliament themselves someday.
“I remember a similar trip that I went on in Sixth Form. It acted, for me, as an inspiration to be involved in politics and I hope in some small way it will for them, as well.”
Describing the trip, teacher Andrew Jacobs said: "Watching the Autumn Statement being read out and debated only two days after we had stood there ourselves certainly made it seem so much more real and personal.
"Gavin continues to impress my students and me, particularly with his down-to-earth honesty and non-dogmatic approach. He is extremely welcoming and arranged a superb tour of Parliament for us. For those students who hadn't been to London before it was a particularly eye-opening introduction to the capital to get off a train at Euston, to emerge from the Underground in front of Big Ben and within a few minutes to be taken by their M.P. through Westminster Hall, Central Lobby and then past the very seat where the Prime Minister sits in perhaps the most identifiable room in the land. We were particularly interested to hear Gavin's views on Europe and impressed by his thoughtful take on what it is like to be a Member of Parliament."