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David Reed MP - Visit to Clyst Vale

On Friday, we were pleased to welcome David Reed, Conservative Member of Parliament for Exmouth & Exeter East, back to Clyst Vale. Many of our students will remember that, before being elected, Mr Reed visited our Sixth Form as one of the key candidates taking part in the General Election hustings last June. During that event, he joined representatives from other major parties to outline his policies and answer questions from students across Years 7–12 — a session noted for its thoughtful discussion and the high level of student engagement.

It was therefore a pleasure to host him again, this time in his capacity as our constituency MP. Mr Reed joined members of our Student Board for lunch, where the conversation was lively, wide‑ranging and genuinely student‑led. Our students raised issues that matter deeply to them, including university tuition fees, debates around lowering the voting age, and concerns about social media use and age‑limit proposals. They asked challenging, well‑considered questions and shared honest perspectives on how national decisions shape their futures.

Mr Reed listened thoughtfully, responded openly, and encouraged students to remain politically aware and active — echoing the emphasis all candidates placed on youth engagement during the hustings.

Encounters like this exemplify what we value at Clyst Vale: informed questioning, confident student voice, and meaningful opportunities for young people to engage with real‑world democratic processes. We are grateful to Mr Reed for taking the time to visit, for continuing the relationship established during the election campaign, and for supporting our students’ interest in politics and public life.

What a brilliant example of student leadership and citizenship  in action at Clyst Vale.