YEAR 7 students from the Tavistock College Challenge Programme recently met Geoffrey Cox to hear him explain his role as West Devon's MP.

The programme is designed to stretch the most able students, who thoroughly enjoyed the session and were keen to ask questions.

Several students said afterwards that they learned a lot about how democracy works in Britain, and how living in such a rural area means there are different problems to those faced by families in cities.

Mr Cox went on to speak to A-level law students, who were interested to hear about his experience as a barrister.

Also invited were the successful Rotary Club Youth Speaks teams from the college, who found it fascinating to listen to such a practised public speaker — they hope to use the experience to help them improve still further, for future rounds of the competition.

College principal Helen Salmon said: 'We are delighted that our local MP visits the college to help our young people.  In this instance he worked with younger students in Year 7 and also with those sixth formers studying A level law. 

'It is enormously helpful for our students to have the benefit of his experience as an MP and barrister.'

 Mr Cox is pictured above with some of the students.