In collaboration with students from St John’s School in Surrey, NewVIc students joined them at Admiralty House for the event.
A group of first year A Level students studying Government and Politics and History took part in a ‘Minister for a Day’ event at the Cabinet Office at Admiralty House earlier this year, kindly invited to by the Head of Politics at St John’s School in Surrey. Winston Churchill lived in Admiralty House while serving as First Lord of the Admiralty for two terms, 1911–15 and 1939–40. It now contains government function rooms and three ministerial flats.
Students were split into four departments and given an outline of challenges for cuts and priorities to consider. Students had the opportunity to negotiate with each other, as Ministers do, to agree a budget for their department. Having weighed up different spending pressures and opportunities to reform public spending, they then pitched their budget needs to the “Chancellor” who may or may not agree, and indeed may even impose further cuts on their departments instead.
Civil servant volunteers were on hand to help as Ministerial team advisors. The event was a fantastic opportunity to improve their understanding of the work of government at the most senior level and at such crucial times as the country nears Brexit and having just had an actual spending review carried out by Chancellor Sajid Javid.
The students from both colleges were also treated to a visit to 10 Downing Street as part of the event to conclude their experiences as ministers.
“It was an excellent trip. It gave us great insight into the work of government. It was great to work with other students from a different school setting and I think that these opportunities should be given to everybody. It would help with improving diversity in politics. It inspired us all to aim high.”
Noah
Year 1 A Level Politics student
“It was a really great trip. Especially coming from a working class background where the opportunities don’t come often. It really improved my awareness of politics and was a great opportunity to improve my speaking and presentation skills.”
Tamima
Year 1 A Level Politics student, NewVIc Chancellor
Nazli Koc, Head of Humanities said: “This was a brilliant collaboration between NewVIc and St John’s School. We are very proud of all the students who took part in the Cabinet Office event. The Chancellors worked hard to control public spending and the members of the different departments put forward convincing arguments against further cuts. Only one department – healthcare- resigned from government! Well done NewVIc and St John’s School. We look forward to doing something jointly again in the near future”.