Eight students from Year 8 at St John’s School in Bishop Auckland were selected, on the basis of excellent achievement in RE, to attend the Commonwealth Day Observance Ceremony at Westminster Abbey in the presence of the Duke of Edinburgh and a number of other dignitaries. Unfortunately, due to illness, the Queen was unable to attend this year’s ceremony.
Students watched performances by Beverley Knight and The Noisettes. Sir Richard Branson gave the address, speaking on Enterprise and the Commonwealth.
Taking advantage of being in London, students also visited the Science Museum and saw Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament.
The eight selected students were also required to participate in the Commonewalth Essay Competition 2013, the chosen topic being change. We await the results with great interest!
