Sarah Jones MP at St Mary's Question Time

We were delighted to welcome our local Member of Parliament for Croydon West, Sarah Jones, who also serves as Minister of State for Industry, to our school for a Question Time event on Friday, 28th February.

Sarah Jones is no stranger to our school, having visited us on several occasions and always encouraging students to voice their concerns on both local and national issues. It was therefore a natural choice to invite her as the first guest in what we hope will become a series of similar events. Sarah had previously visited us as an opposition MP, so it was a real privilege for our school community to engage with her in her current role as a member of His Majesty’s Government.

The Question Time event took place in our Sports Hall and was expertly hosted by Head Girl Godiva and Head Boy Jaeden. The questions posed to Sarah Jones were thoughtfully selected by the school’s student leadership team and covered a broad spectrum of topics. These questions were designed to challenge Sarah Jones and elicit detailed, informative answers.

A summary of the key questions included:

Trust:
Despite winning the general election with a landslide, reflecting a desire for change, the government is currently polling very low due to a number of difficult decisions. What should the Labour Party focus on to rebuild trust and ensure the public’s confidence is not misplaced?

Homelessness:
At St Mary’s, we are taught the importance of human dignity, and we are deeply concerned about the troubling rise in homelessness. What actions is the government taking to address the growing homelessness crisis, both nationally and locally, where it is estimated that 400 people are homeless?

Local Regeneration:
As young people growing up in Croydon, we see that the area has been left behind in recent years, despite promises of regeneration for the town centre and shopping facilities. Why has Croydon been let down by unfulfilled promises, and how can we be assured that any future regeneration will benefit local residents and not just large businesses?

Education:
How can we be confident that the government’s decision to impose VAT on private schools will not negatively impact the state sector, potentially increasing pressure on class sizes and resources, such as SEND provision? Furthermore, with many independent schools withdrawing bursary schemes due to financial strain, what impact does this have on social mobility?

Business and Innovation:
Over the past 12 months, Croydon has seen a 24% increase in microbusinesses, outpacing the rest of London. As MP for Croydon West, what steps will you take to sustain this growth and ensure that local residents have access to job opportunities?

Europe:
With the recent increased focus on our relationship with Europe, what are your views on the possibility of the UK rejoining the EU, and what would the political and economic benefits be? Additionally, how can we be empowered to become global citizens and leaders, contributing to a better world?

Additional questions touched on topics such as accessibility, affordability, inflation, and economic inequality between regions of the UK and areas of London.

Following the Question Time, Jaeden and Godiva shared their reflections on how well Sarah Jones responded to the questions. Both felt that Sarah Jones answered the questions skillfully, ensuring that her responses were clear and accessible to students across all year groups, without overwhelming them with overly technical explanations. They also appreciated her depth of knowledge, particularly on local issues such as homelessness and regeneration, where her answers reflected both passion and expertise.

Both Jaeden and Godiva thoroughly enjoyed hosting the Question Time event and considered it a valuable experience. They believe it’s crucial for students to hear from people in positions of leadership and influence, as it helps them develop informed opinions on important societal issues.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Sarah Jones for generously giving her time to our school community, especially given her busy schedule as a Minister of State. A special thank you also goes to Jaeden and Godiva for hosting the event so effectively on behalf of the student body at St Mary’s.