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November 2020 November 2020
NEWS FROM WESTMINSTER
WE ARE LOOKING FOR COMMUNITY

GOVERNORS FOR OUR VILLAGE SCHOOL A week in Westminster
Monday: I head to London early to be in time for my
Are you... first meeting – Number 9, Downing Street with the
Whips team. We discuss the forthcoming business for
 Looking for a new the week, and I check which days I will be Telling –
challenge? counting the MPs as they vote. I will also be moving
some of the government motions — presenting Bills
 Willing to help your local to the Speaker for debating or voting. I spend a
community? portion of the day in the House for debates, and I
also attend the first DL committee for the week.
 Able to dedicate some
spare time to improving Delegated Legislation is secondary legislation that does not need an Act of
outcomes for our children? Parliament, and it is scrutinised through committees of MPs. There are several
votes after the debates in the House, and with social distancing, each takes 15-
 Looking/willing to be part 20 minutes. I leave at the start of the adjournment debate, which starts at 10pm,
of OR someone who enjoys and work on my emails when I get home.
being a member of a pro-
active team of dedicated individuals? Tuesday: I start the day with a call to my Senior Parliamentary Assistant. My
London staff are all working remotely, so it’s important to touch base with them
 Able to make a real contribution to our school? regularly by phone. We discuss any policy and research that’s ongoing, and he
asks for guidance on some of the correspondence and casework that needs
Bere Regis Primary and Pre-school has undergone significant change in the last following up. I then have meetings with colleagues about future Bills, and spend
three years; we are now in a very positive position. We need to broaden our some time in the debates in the House. I am Telling for the vote, and am asked
Governing Board to include some additional individuals, who don’t currently to announce the results. Usually this is alongside 3 other whips, but for social
have children at the school. It is very important to have different perspectives distancing, it is just me today.
and we would welcome someone who is able to dedicate some time to the
school. Wednesday: Regular meeting in the Department for Education with the
Secretary of State and Ministers. We discuss how schools are coping with the
We are a strong team who are pro-actively involved in the school, and work to new regime, and the Universities Minister brings us up to date with the situation in
understand the challenges it faces, supporting it when required. Our role primarily universities across the country. I call the constituency office, to discuss Friday’s
involves being a ‘critical friend’; questioning and challenging the head teacher surgery arrangements with my caseworker. She is working on several complex
and senior leaders to ensure every aspect of the provision is at its very best. We and sensitive issues for constituents, and we chat through who I need to see in
are fully supported by the Wessex Multi Academy Trust in our quest to ensure that
person, and who I will be calling on the phone. Following that I attend another
Bere Regis has a positive outcome at our next Ofsted inspection. DL committee on coronavirus regulations.
The full governing body meet once per half term for approximately 2 hours. This Later in the afternoon I attend the 1922
would be the minimum time commitment, but ideally you would be able to committee which consists of backbench
spend some additional time in school, getting to know the culture and the Conservative MPs. A Secretary of State
children. No previous experience is needed as on-line training and ‘on the job’ usually comes to speak to us and take
support will be provided. questions.
Thursday: Early start to the day with
For an informal discussion about the roles and what you can do to help, please
contact Lucy Roberts (Chair of Governors) robertsla@live.co.uk 07770733832. We breakfast in Number 10 with the Prime
would love to hear from you, so please get in touch. Minister. A small group of us have been
invited so we can discuss the national
situation, and to enable us to ask questions

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