POLITICALLY-minded students at a city school enjoyed a visit from Worcester MP Mike Foster.

A group of 10 AS-level politics students at Nunnery Wood High School took the opportunity to meet the Labour MP and ask him about Government policies and topics linked to their political studies.

Bernadette Speechley, who organised the visit, said the students had arrived well prepared with carefully structured questions and were not shy in pushing for the answers that they wanted.

"They discussed a variety of issues such as devolution, funding for the NHS and the Labour Party's policy on nuclear defence," she said.

"The visit was a huge success, with students gaining a lot of up-to-date opinion on the topics that they are studying.

"Students were intrigued to learn more about the day-to-day routines with Westminster and the specific role of an MP.

"They also realised that MPs are human beings and found Mr Foster to be very approachable and helpful."

She said the students were doing AS level politics as an extra qualification in their own time, in addition to their regular timetable.

"I introduced the course as an opportunity to stretch the more able students and provide them with the chance to gain an AS-level at the same time as their GCSEs, as well as developing their understanding of Government and politics," she added.

"This allows them to apply the knowledge and skills that they have gained during the course to their other studies now and in the future.

"Throughout the course students tackle complex topics such as the need for constitutional reform, the process of elections, the roles of the executive, judiciary and legislature, as well as examining the way in which people participate in politics and the theoretical beliefs associated with these topics.

"They also learn about the integration of Britain into Europe in addition to human rights and liberties and how these are protected.

"The students take part in debates and discussions, they also conduct independent research."