Epping Forest MP Dr Neil Hudson recently visited Debden Park High School in Loughton, where he was welcomed by Head of School Dr Andrew Hogan and Deputy Head Teacher Ms Gemma Haycock, for a Q&A session with A-Level Politics students and a tour of the school’s facilities.
During his discussion with A-Level Politics students, Dr Hudson explained how legislation is debated in Parliament, prompting a range of thoughtful and challenging questions. Students raised concerns about local public transport, particularly the difficulties of commuting from Waltham Abbey, and highlighted the negative experiences on the Central Line, citing excessive heat, delays and graffiti.
Reflecting on his veterinary background, Dr Hudson described his work as a Shadow DEFRA Minister at DEFRA. He noted how global events, including the war in Ukraine, have driven up food and energy prices in the UK, and he recalled the national response to the 2001 Foot and Mouth outbreak.
After the Q&A, Dr Hudson was given a tour of the school. He visited the Sixth Form block, known as ‘The Hive’, and met members of the Executive Be Team - students who promote the school’s values through mentoring and assemblies. These values, which include Be Safe, Be Inspiring, Be Confident, Be Ambitious and Be Outstanding, are central to the school’s identity and student experience.
Epping Forest MP Dr Hudson said:
“It was a real pleasure to visit Debden Park High School and meet such articulate and engaged students. It is such a great school, and the students are a real credit to their families, the school and the staff.
“Their questions were thoughtful and showed genuine interest in political and social issues. I was equally impressed by the ethos of the school and the ambition it instils in its pupils.”
Head of Debden Park High School, Dr Hogan, said:
"It was a great opportunity for our students to meet and talk with their local MP, and we are very grateful to Dr Hudson for providing our students with this experience.
“Our politics students, building upon their visit to the Houses of Parliament earlier this year, posed some thoughtful and challenging questions, while our newly appointed Executive BE Team did the whole school community proud in explaining and embodying the BE characteristics in their discussions with Dr Hudson. The students explained how they had consciously developed and 'lived' the BE characteristics, ranging from BE Challenged to BE involved, and how they supported younger students to do the same.
"It was a great opportunity for our students to meet and talk with their local MP, and we are very grateful to Dr Hudson for providing our students with this experience.”
