Lessons at No. 10 - Amelia Reflects

On Friday, March 28th 2025, I had the absolute joy of joining the Students’ Council from Glengormley Integrated Primary School on an unforgettable trip to London! The kids were accompanied by their principal, Nigel Arnold, and teachers Denise McCann and Chris Denvir, and from the moment we set off, the excitement was contagious.

The highlight of the day was taking part in the Lessons at 10 initiative, including a very special invitation to No. 10 Downing Street. We held the March council meeting in the stunning grand dining room, it was an incredible setting! After the meeting, I shared my book, The Bees and the Wind (illustrated by Jamie Beard). It was commissioned by the Council for Integrated Education and funded by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs to celebrate 40 years of integrated education in Northern Ireland.

Reading my book in such an iconic place was surreal, and I felt truly lucky to experience something so rare for an author from Northern Ireland. After the reading, the children got to explore No. 10 and even met Larry the Cat! From there, we went on to see some of London’s most famous sights: Nelson’s Column, Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, the Jubilee Bridge, and the London Eye.

By the time we headed back to the airport, the kids were buzzing with excitement, and I couldn’t help but feel that this was a day they, and I, will never forget. I hope some of these amazing students from Glengormley IPS go on to become the world leaders of tomorrow… I can’t wait to see what they do!