An Old Malden school is set to welcome London mayor Boris Johnson when it hosts the People’s Question Time next month.

Residents and schoolchildren will be able to ask Mr Johnson questions about transport, employment, housing, policing and fire strategy when he arrives at Richard Challoner School.

Free tickets for the high-profile event are now available online.

Headteacher Tom Cahill said: “We are delighted to have been chosen to host this event.

“We’re sure our students in particular will relish the experience, as well as feel more informed about the work of the London Assembly. Events like this will also encourage them to engage in political issues.”

Greater London Assembly members will be at hand for the discussions that will see up to 400 people pack out the Manor Drive North school’s main hall on Wednesday, March 26.

The ticketed event is arranged twice yearly by City Hall and takes place in different parts of London.

Richmond councillor Tony Arbour and London Assembly member for the South West will chair the event that will bring 18 London Assembly members to the borough.

A spokeswoman from the school said: “It’s quite a big event. They came to see our school a good few months ago. We feel really privileged that they have chosen our school to host this event.

“We hope to get some of our students involved and use some of them as stewards around the building.”

The last time the mayor visited the borough was for a walkabout through Surbiton and a meet and greet with shopkeepers in Chessington during his bid for re-election in April 2012.

Councillor David Cunningham, shadow lead for schools and continuing education, said the political questioning event was “exactly what we want”.

He said: “I definitely welcome it. It gets people involved. I have been before – it is quite good. He will actually go further than most politicians. He does his homework.

“I think it is excellent that he is coming and it is exactly what we want for the borough.”

For a free ticket to the People’s Question Time visit london.gov.uk/get-involved/events/peoples-question-time-kingston.


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