Pupils in Okehampton to lead a Roundtable Discussion in Westminster

8 students from Okehampton College* in Devon will travel to London for a special parliamentary event in July.  Along with pupils from two schools in Cumbria, they will be leading a Roundtable Discussion on matters of religion and belief. The event will be held in the House of Lords and will be attended by parliamentarians, including local MP, the Rt Hon Sir Mel Stride. The students will also take a tour of the Houses of Parliament, hosted by Lord and Lady Singh.

The event is the culmination of a national two-year funded project with the aim of empowering young people to have a voice as Young Ambassadors for Religious Education. The project has a particular focus on Freedom of Religion or Belief, and students and staff have explored how this relates to their communities, at both a local and national level. During the Roundtable Discussion, each school will present their activities as Young Ambassadors for RE, bringing questions for discussion to the MPs and parliamentarians present.

Speaking about the project: Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale says: “I am really grateful for this opportunity to promote the importance of Religious Education in our schools to MPs and the government.  Young people today are growing up in an increasingly religiously diverse society – they must be equipped with curiosity and respect, and RE is a crucial tool to give them.  I look forward to promoting the need to those in Parliament.”

One of the highlights of the project so far has been the community Iftar (Ramadan fast-breaking meal) which the students hosted for the local Muslim community in March 2025. Over 80 people from the Okehampton area attended, supported by Neomi Alam from the Exeter Islamic Centre, and organized by Beliefs and Values teacher Sky Scott. At least 10 local Muslim families attended, many of whom are relatively new to the area. They were hugely appreciative of the welcome offered to them by the students and the College.

The students have also made presentations at the Devon SACRE RE syllabus launch in June 2024, taken part in an online parliamentary event in November 2024, and spoken at the Holocaust Memorial Day commemorations at Exeter Cathedral in January 2025.

This project has been managed by AREIAC (the Association of RE Inspectors, Advisers and Consultants) and is funded by Culham St Gabriel’s Trust.  Okehampton College has worked with the South West RE Hubs Lead, Ed Pawson.  He says, “It has been wonderful opportunity for students from this Devon school to take the lead on a high-profile national project for the South West.  I look forward to joining them in Westminster for the culmination of the project.” 

More information on the Young Ambassadors for RE Project https://www.areiac.org.uk/youngambassadors

More information about South West RE Hubs https://www.re-hubs.uk/hubs/south-west/

*Okehampton College is part of the Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust