Blackpool Sixth Students Take on Westminster

As part of the Blackpool Sixth Excellence Programme, aspiring lawyers Alfie Burnett, Eli Harrison, Evie Langdon, Aoife Hayden, and Ellie Blinkhorn faced a packed room buzzing with Members of Parliament, sharp-minded Civil Service officials, and heavy hitters from the British Academy. The challenge? No standing on the sidelines. Instead, the students took center stage, delivering bold opening remarks and fielding rapid-fire questions from the very people who write the country's laws.

"Standing up to speak in front of a room full of MPs was definitely nerve-wracking at first," admitted Alfie. "But once we started talking, all the preparation kicked in." For Alfie, who has his sights set on an Oxbridge university law degree, the high-stakes debate was much more than just a school trip, it was a glimpse into his future.

Tackling the Issues of Tomorrow

As the day progressed, the students drove the conversation. They joined high-level roundtable discussions to debate whether the voting age should be lowered to 16, ensuring that critical perspectives from young people outside the London bubble were heard loud and clear. From there, it was straight into a Select Committee session to tackle a highly relevant modern dilemma: proposed social media restrictions for teenagers.

Their contributions across two Select Committee events weren't just an academic exercise, either. Their input has directly fed into current political discussions surrounding the proposed new laws, with their feedback and policy suggestions being compiled into an official report slated for review by parliamentary committees.

Corridors of Power and Future Ambitions

Between the intense policy sessions, the group took time to absorb the gravity of their surroundings with a tour of the historic parliamentary estate. They even snagged seats to watch the pros in action, catching a fiery live debate in the House of Commons chamber featuring the Foreign Secretary, Ed Miliband.

For Eli, the experience was transformative. "Seeing how laws are debated in person made everything we learn in class come alive," he shared. "It completely reaffirmed my ambition to aim for Oxbridge and pursue a legal career. You realise that your voice actually matters in these spaces."

A Proud Moment for Blackpool Sixth

By the time the team arrived back on the Fylde coast late that evening, they were exhausted but buzzing with the adrenaline of the day. Representing Blackpool on a national stage, Alfie, Evie, Aoife, Ellie, and Eli demonstrated incredible poise, critical thinking, and sheer determination.

Their performance was a testament to the college's Excellence Programme, designed to challenge high-achieving students beyond the standard A Level syllabus. By combining tailored Oxbridge and Russell Group application coaching, guest academic lectures, and specialist academies for careers like law and medicine, the programme bridges the gap between college study and top-tier professions. Opportunities like this trip to Parliament are at the core of that mission, ensuring the next generation of local talent doesn't just aim for high-level spaces, they step into them fully prepared to lead.