Students from Year 12 and Year 9 were excited to be invited to visit 10 Downing Street recently to take part in the ‘Lessons at 10’ programme.

‘Lessons at 10’ is designed to inspire children and encourage a love of learning by bringing schools from across the UK into Downing Street so that they can experience a lesson in one of the State rooms.

Students arrived at the famous gates of 10 Downing Street and were warmly greeted by the Number 10 staff who showed them to their classroom for the day, the State Dining Room, normally host to International Dignitaries and Diplomatic meetings.

The Head of History and Politics Adam White would today use this room for a lesson on the power and role of prime ministers over time.

In these grand surroundings, students demonstrated the qualities of leadership by discussing and debating a wide range of ideas.

Following the lesson students enjoyed an extended exclusive tour of Downing Street even being given the chance to talk to the staff who work most intimately with the current prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer.

Speaking about their visit, Adam White said, “this truly was a memorable visit at every step from walking through the black door, to meeting Larry the Cat, to having lunch in the private gardens of Number 10 and 11 in the summer sunshine.

"At every turn the events team made us feel welcome and showed us hidden parts of our national history.

"One of the most popular moments was entering the White Room and sitting in the chair of the Prime Minister only usually seen on the news reports.”