Let them eat cake

Released 18/11/2008

Matthew Jane visits the House of Lords to learn what children really want from their school

The world of politics often throws up some amusing juxtapositions: Health Secretaries that look as if they are at death's door, Transport Ministers who can't drive, and today I witnessed another self-confessed juxtaposition.

It was pointed out by Baroness Estelle Morris during an Innovation in education showcase at the House of Lords.

"It is amusing that this innovation showcase is being held in the House of Lords," quipped Morris, pointing out that while many members of the House have email and are happy to use it, the technological knowledge possessed by our peers could often be viewed as obsolete in comparison to the younger generation.

"I felt confident about something I learnt last year, only to talk to the children and realise that they learnt it three years ago and have now moved on to the next thing," said Morris.

It was to that ends that the organisers, Futurelab, had arranged for the children and teachers that had been involved in the projects to speak to visitors about what was entailed.

Of the innovations on show were a responsive fountain, designed by children for their playground; a network for uploading films of children's life outside school; a project to enable children to design their own curriculum; and project to enable children to go out and interact with their local environment.

It was refreshing to see the children take the lead in such work, their own inimitable take on such things and their first-hand perspective to the projects was both refreshing and enlightening.

The teachers were obviously happy to play second fiddle to the children's lead and it was obviously an exciting day out, exploring the echelons of power for the lucky children, who came from various Bristol schools.

Chatting to one Year 6 girl about how she found the project, I think she summed it up perfectly when she said: "It's nice to have a say in our education, we get to tell the teachers what we want to be doing. And we get to come here to Parliament and eat the cakes!"

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