MP URGES SOLIHULL SCHOOLS TO ENTER NATIONAL YOUTH PARLIAMENT COMPETITION

11.42.38pm GMT Tue 4th Dec 2007

Solihull secondary pupils are being urged to plan and stage their own parliamentary style debate in school and enter a video of the event for next year's National Youth Parliament Competition.

Mrs Burt has written to Head Teachers at all Solihull secondary schools to encourage entries for the event before the closing deadline of 11th January 2008. Schools will then be sent a competition pack and teaching resources to help them prepare a school debate. Completed video entries are then returned to the Citizenship Foundation.

Mrs Burt, who has offered to help any pupils who want to prepare for the competition said:

"As well as being an effective way of delivering key elements of citizenship education, the competition helps bring to life the process of parliament, government and politics.

"Teams of young people aged between 11 and 18 choose and research a political issue, take on the roles of government and opposition, and set up their own parliamentary debates. Each school makes a video of the debate and these are submitted to be viewed and judged by a panel of MPs.

"This is a great way for young people to find out more about politics and who knows, one of the contestants may well be a future MP for Solihull or even the Prime Minister!"