A '˜first' for both the Baroness and Northease Manor students

As part of the Peers in Schools Outreach Programme, it is hoped the information she gave about the House of Lords will encourage more students to become engaged with the parliamentary process.

Among the year nine, 10 and 11s was a group of GCSE Citizenship students who have already visited the Houses of Parliament and were keen to put questions to the Baroness; a pertinent point raised was how many people with special needs are in the House of Lords?

Having previously been a teacher and visited many schools already, Baroness Massey knew her facts and completely engaged the students with entertaining anecdotes. However, a first for her was when talented Lewes student, Sid Yates, drew her caricature.

Fascinated with topical and historic political cartoons, being able to draw a political figure was a first for him too. The Baroness asked to take the sketch as a memento and has promised to return to Northease to talk to other students.

Northease Manor School is a small, independent, co-educational school for students aged 10 to 18 with specific learning difficulties, including dyslexia, dyspraxia and autism.

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