Pupils from Ysgol Penmaes in Brecon stepped into the councillors’ chairs at County Hall earlier this month, experiencing the council chamber for themselves and using the electronic congress system.

The learners travelled to the headquarters of Powys County Council in Llandrindod Wells on Wednesday, December 10 for a very special visit.

During their time at County Hall, Ysgol Penmaes pupils asked senior leaders about education in Powys, and saw themselves appear on the big screens - just like they would in a real council meeting.

The group of learners met with Chair of Council, Cllr William Powell; Cllr James Gibson-Watt, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys; Dr Richard Jones, Director of Education; and Judith Hickey, Head of Additional Learning Needs (ALN), Inclusion and Wellbeing.

The visit was designed to inspire the school’s pupil leadership team and strengthen their understanding of local government, while giving them a voice in discussions about education.

Headteacher Angharad Bryn-Jones said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for our pupil leadership team to see where important decisions about education happen.”

“They were thrilled to sit in the councillors’ chairs and take part in a question-and-answer session with the council’s senior leaders.”

“We are so proud of how they represented the school – they truly are amazing,” she said.

Following the visit, Cllr James Gibson-Watt said: “Meeting the pupils from Ysgol Penmaes was a real privilege. Their enthusiasm and thoughtful questions show how much they care about their education and their community.”

“Giving young people the chance to see how decisions are made helps build confidence and understanding of local democracy, and we were delighted to welcome them,” he said.

Dr Richard Jones added: “We were really impressed by the pupils’ questions and ideas. Their voices matter, and visits like this help us listen and learn from their perspectives.”