Mayor launches new Big Lecture programme at Gilbert Inglefield Academy

Pupils at Gilbert Inglefield Academy welcomed Cllr Kevin Pughe, Town Mayor of Leighton-Linslade, to the school to launch its new Big Lecture programme with a special session exploring democracy and local government.

The Big Lecture is a new initiative designed to give pupils in Years 5–8 opportunities to hear directly from people with a range of careers, experiences and roles within the wider community.

For the programme’s first lecture, Cllr Pughe spoke to pupils about democracy, and the role of the Mayor, explaining what it means to represent and serve the local community.

Pupils explored how democracy gives people a voice in decisions that affect them and learned that active citizenship involves more than simply voting. The session encouraged them to consider the importance of listening to different viewpoints, participating in their communities and recognising the contribution they can make themselves.

The lecture also supported Gilbert Inglefield Academy’s values of Ambition, Belonging and Opportunity, with a particular focus on Belonging and the importance of ensuring that people feel heard, represented and valued within their communities.

Marie Timberlake, Associate Assistant Headteacher for Personal Development at Gilbert Inglefield Academy, said: “We were delighted to welcome Cllr Pughe to launch our Big Lecture programme. We want our pupils to understand that their voices matter and that they have an important part to play in their school and wider community. The Big Lecture will give our pupils opportunities to hear from people beyond the classroom, ask questions and discover more about the world around them. We hope it will raise aspirations, broaden horizons and perhaps even inspire some of our pupils to become the community leaders of the future.”

Pupils were also able to put their own questions to Cllr Pughe, giving them first-hand insight into the responsibilities of the Mayor and the workings of local democracy.

The Mayor’s visit marks the beginning of a series of Big Lectures planned at Gilbert Inglefield Academy, with further guests set to share their experiences and expertise with pupils throughout the academic year.