Students at St Helena School in Colchester were given a glimpse into the life of a MP during a special visit.
More than 150 Year 8 students took part in a Q&A with Colchester MP Will Quince to hear about the political system and the importance of living in a democracy.
Questions ranged from what Mr Quince was most proud of to what he would be doing if he wasn’t a MP.
Fiona Pierson, headteacher at St Helena School, said: “We would like to thank Mr Quince for visiting the school and for hosting an audience with our Year 8 students.
“We were very proud of the students’ insightful questions and their level of maturity and awareness they showed around some of the big issues we are all facing.”
The visit came just hours after it was announced that Colchester had been granted city status and Mr Quince spoke to students about the “huge civic pride” around the news.
Mr Quince said: “I always enjoy visiting my local schools and hearing from such engaging students.
“It is really important to give them a taste of what a MP does and they asked some really great questions. It was clear they really care about their local community and the world at large.”