WITH politics such a hot topic right now, what better time to be a school MP in Oxspring?

And certainly pupils at the village primary agree as 11 have come forward to form the second Pupil Parliament.

The team is building on the success of the inaugural session which was launched last year, mirroring the work of Westminster MPs even down to having a Leader of the School.

Head teacher Sharon Irwin said Oxspring has always had a school council:

“It is true democracy in action. We wanted to enhance the pupils’ voice because we feel children have many opinions about school it’s their school after all.

“They should have a voice about decisions we take, at a whole-school level. They know the school well and are the best people to tell us what works.”

As part of a ‘very serious’ Westminster-style application procedure, the children wrote manifestos anonymously so children couldn’t just vote for their ‘best friends’.

Local MP Angela Smith visited the school to talk about life as an MP and the children have also been to Barnsley town hall to see how the borough council operates.

Last year there were ten school MPs and this year’s 11 includes the leader.

Mrs Irwin said: “They are making significant changes. It is phenomenal. We have seen a real increase in confidence with some of those involved.

“The role has been made very clear to them and their responsibilities. It is a very important task. They are the voice of the pupils.”

The MPs hold class surgeries where others can voice their concerns and a member of staff and a school governor are also part of the project.

“It is working really well,” said Mrs Irwin. “They know they have to be sensible.

“And parents think it is amazing.”

She added Oxspring had taken school councils ‘to a different level’.

“The pupil voice has risen to a very high level.

“We have many future leaders in the making here.”

The young MPs have to listen to and represent the views of classmates; attend a monthly meeting of the Pupil Parliament; help with assemblies and presenting awards and be willing to do other jobs such as showing visitors around, helping in the playground and organising fundraisers.

One major success of the first scheme was to get new toilets. MPs raised the concerns of other pupils over the toilet areas and produced a video highlighting the problems.

They also helped to get sponsorship for the garden area and were involved in interviews for new members of staff.