Nusrat Ghani, MP for Sussex Weald, was delighted to visit Mayfield School to join the Sixth Form assembly as keynote speaker and take part at a roundtable with Year 12&13 Politics students.
Mayfield School is a leading independent day and boarding school providing education for girls aged 11-18. Its history dates all the way back to 1863 when Mother Cornelia Connelly first visited the ruins of the Old Palace of Mayfield, which were then transformed into a church where education first began in 1872. Today, the school lies at the heart of Mayfield village, preparing young women for the world beyond the educational environment.
During the visit Nusrat met with Headmistress Deborah Bligh, before addressing the Sixth Form assembly as keynote speaker and joining Year 12&13 Politics students for further discussions at an informal roundtable.
The students engaged Nusrat in discussions about her journey into Westminster; role of women in politics; greatest political challenges facing young people and the votes for 16 year-olds; and the privileges and challenges of her roles as the MP for Sussex Weald, Madam Deputy Speaker, and previous roles as Government Minister in the Foreign Office, Cabinet Office, Department for Transport and Department for Business and Trade.
Nusrat also spoke about the importance of female representation in both local and national government and empowering women to take up leadership roles not only in politics but across all industries.
Nusrat Ghani said: “It was a pleasure to return to Mayfield School for a very insightful and thought-provoking session with the Sixth Form students. I enjoyed discussing current and international affairs and hearing their experiences and views on playing an active role in politics. Since my election as the first female MP for the constituency in 2015, I have always pledged to do what I can to encourage young people to get involved and help empower young women to reach their full potential. My journey has not been easy, but it's been exciting to see changes and opportunities for women opening up within my own lifetime. We still have work to do to ensure that women and girls have the opportunity, safety and security to excel in all areas of life and I was encouraged by the drive and determination to succeed shown by Mayfield School’s Sixth Form students.”
