FERNHURST Primary School has taken part in the world’s first virtual children’s parliament for COP26.

Three days before the start of the COP26 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, up to 650 British children, matched to the number of adult MPs in the British parliament, were part of the world’s first virtual children’s parliament for seven to 11 year-olds.

Fernhurst Primary School was selected as one of the schools to be involved in the live event represented by a Year 6 prefect, Tahla Pay.

The key topic of the debate was climate change, but it also touched on other issues such as our Covid-19 response.

Pivotal questions related to the COP26 United Nations Climate Change Conference were put to a vote and findings were shared within the COP26 proceedings.

Before the event Tahla had worked with the young governors at Fernhurst Primary School to ensure the views of all children were gathered. She made sure the opinions of her peers were included in the debate.

Tahla said: "It was really exciting to work with national MPs to work towards making a real change at such a young age."

Fernhurst Primary School headteacher Jennifer Thornton believes children should be consulted with and said: "Our children are the future - it is vital they understand about the world we live in and consider how to contribute towards change."

Mrs Thornton will be working with Tahla and the rest of the school to introduce climate pledges following on from this event.

The transcripts and conclusions from the debate with the children will be available to all MPs after the session, including but not exclusively to the individuals behind the Future Generations Bill.