STUDENTS from Bohunt Education Trust (BET) met East Hampshire MP Damian Hinds, the new Secretary of State for Education, to share their views on ‘Skills and Training for the 21st Century.’

The students from years 9, 10, 11 and 12 at Bohunt School in Liphook, The Petersfield School (TPS) and Bohunt Sixth Form were accompanied by Bohunt Education Trust chief executive and Bohunt School headteacher Neil Strowger and TPS headteacher Mark Marande to the event at Sheet Village Hall.

Mixing with professionals from the area, the students debated questions pertinent to the government and designed to help influence future policy, on subjects such as boosting productivity in the UK, how jobs in the future might change with increasing use of robots and the ways in which training should continue after a student’s formal education.

Mr Hinds praised the students for their articulate and thoughtful contributions and said that their views would be helpful in addressing these issues at the Department for Education.

Participants of the event were also extremely complimentary about the students, praising their “excellent contributions” and remarking that the students’ “composure in the groups and the way they analysed the discussion and then contributed in a meaningful way was outstanding.”

Mr Strowger said: “We were delighted to offer our young people the chance to have their opinion heard and get involved in the political process. Bohunt is an innovative multi-academy trust that seeks to develop not only its students but education more generally.

“I am immensely proud of all the students involved in the workshop and hope it has served to inspire them for the future.”

Mr Marande said: “We are passionate about creating politically engaged students at TPS, as demonstrated by our successful student-led campaign that helped save the Petersfield Water Meadows near Tesco for the local community.

“I am confident that TPS students will go on to be a positive force for change in the world.

“Well done to all involved for being such excellent ambassadors for both their schools and their generation.”