St Stephen's School Parliament

Welcome to Banks St Stephen's Parliament

Patrick Hurley Parliament

This morning, I visited Banks St Stephen’s Primary School to introduce pupils to the work I do and to give them a glimpse into day-to-day life in Westminster, as part of the continuing campaign for UK Parliament Week.

I was delighted to discover that the pupils already had a strong understanding of my role, thanks in large part to the fantastic school Parliament run at St Stephen’s. The school operates a two-tier system, with a student House of Commons and a House of Lords made up of staff and members of the wider Banks community. This gives pupils the opportunity to take on leadership roles and to work alongside adults in their community.

It is a brilliant way of teaching students how different governing structures operate, while also embedding a genuine sense of collaboration and shared responsibility for the common good.

The positive impact of this initiative was clear when I met their elected members of the ‘House of Commons’. Pupils showed a real interest in the bills I have voted for and against, and in legislation that could affect them directly, including the proposed under-16s social media ban.

I would like to thank the pupils and staff at Banks St Stephens C of E Primary School for such a warm welcome, and I hope to support them in any way I can in the future to ensure initiatives like this continue to be encouraged and properly supported.

#studentparliament #childrensparliament

Our KS2 children enjoy outreach visits from UK Parliament. The children learnt all about the Houses of Lords and Commons and Year 6 children participated in a debating workshop. #UKParliament

At Banks St Stephen's we are always guided by our core values of Belong, Serve, Succeed.

Today our School Council met and decided on some key roles for our BSS House of Lords. We’re now inviting parents, governors, and members of the Banks community to nominate themselves or someone else to take up a role!

So far, the roles include:

Playground/Playtime

Worship

Cultural

Environment

Lunchtime

Partnership

Health & Safety

If you have expertise in any of these areas – or know someone who does – please comment below or email Mr Allen at head@bank-st-stephens.lancs.sch.uk

Keep an eye on our Facebook page – we’ll be announcing more roles soon!

Belong-By inviting parents, governors, and community members to take on meaningful roles in our BSS House of Lords, we strengthen our sense of belonging, showing that everyone has a valued place and voice in shaping our school’s future.

At Banks St Stephen’s CE Primary, we’re excited to announce that our House of Commons votes will take place in the Autumn Term! All children will have the opportunity to vote for their peers who wish to become Members of Parliament for their class, with two representatives being elected from each class.

How to Apply:
If your child would like to stand as a Member of Parliament, they can put forward their proposal in one of the following ways:
Letter
Voice Note
Video

To support the children with their applications, our Year 6 pupils will be available to offer guidance and encouragement.

Final Voting Date:
A final date for voting will be released soon, but please note this will be after the summer holidays.

Succeed-By taking on leadership roles and working alongside adults in the community, our pupils gain real-world experience and confidence—key skills that help them succeed both in school and in life.

We’re thrilled to announce that we have a special trip to the Houses of Parliament planned for the Autumn Term! This is an amazing opportunity for our students to experience the heart of British democracy and see how our government works in real life.

Succeed-By visiting the Houses of Parliament, our students gain real-world insight into democracy and leadership—broadening their understanding and inspiring them to succeed as informed, active citizens of the future.

We are excited to announce that Banks St Stephen’s CE Primary School is forming a House of Lords as part of our new Pupil Parliament. We are looking for children, parents, and governors with a passion for different subjects and areas of expertise to join this exciting new initiative.

This is a fantastic opportunity to share your knowledge, mentor young leaders, and shape the future of our school.

More details will follow soon.

We are looking for children at St Stephen’s CE Primary School to be elected to our House of Commons. This will be a fantastic opportunity for pupils to represent their classmates, make a difference, and help shape the future of our school.

Elections will take place through a democratic process, giving every child a chance to have their voice heard.

More details will follow soon.

Serve-By joining the House of Lords, children, parents, and governors have the opportunity to serve the school community—sharing their expertise, mentoring young leaders, and helping shape a brighter future for all.

Belong-By giving every child the chance to vote and be elected, our House of Commons helps pupils feel they truly belong—knowing their voices matter and they are an important part of shaping our school community.