On Tuesday the 29th of January St Cenydd Pupil Senedd members went to Y Senedd in Cardiff Bay. This was an educational visit to see how the real Welsh Assembly functions and operates.

We left school at 11:10 am on a bus that took us to Cardiff Bay. Once we had arrived, we ate our lunch in the Millennium Centre, whereafter we entered the Senedd building. We passed through security (similarly to an airport) and were given a lanyard to enable us not to have to pass through security again.

With our lanyard, we came to a small education room. Here we learned about some of the roles and powers of the National Assembly.

Penultimately, we were taken into the old assembly debating chamber in Ty Hywel to have a small debate as the Pupil Senedd. During our debate on should the voting age be lowered to the age of sixteen, we even got to use the microphones which the assembly members used to use in their debates!

Finally, we were taken to Y Senedd to watch the Assembly in session. We were shown to an upper floor gallery where we could watch First Minister’s Questions; we could also listen to what they were saying through a set of headphones.

After this, we returned to school. I think I speak for everyone when I say that we thoroughly enjoyed our day out of school to learn new things; it was an experience for us all.

Matthew Gooding, y7 Pupil Senedd Member