First Bishop’s Stortford High School pupil to become MP returns to talk to students

New Labour MP and former Bishop’s Stortford High School (BSHS) student Andrew Lewin was the first guest speaker to visit the secondary’s state-of-the-art new campus.

Mr Lewin attended the former London Road secondary from 1998 to 2005 and is remembered as a student who “excelled at his academic subjects – especially politics A-level – cricket and debating”.

The 37-year-old ousted former Conservative Defence Secretary Grant Shapps to win the Welwyn Hatfield seat on July 4 and became the first BSHS old boy to sit in the House of Commons.

Mr Lewin visited the new home of his alma mater at St James’ Park last week as part of the sixth-form citizenship programme. He visited the old base in 2018.

The MP’s first parliamentary attempt was in 2010. He came second to Tory Mark Prisk when he ran for election as Hertford and Stortford’s MP, representing the Liberal Democrats.

The verdict from sixth-formers and teachers was that Mr Lewin was “a most appropriate guest as we ‘look to, and respect, the past, present and future’, following our school motto”.

Simon Etheridge, subject leader for religious studies and citizenship, added: “Andrew Lewin gave a short, balanced, inclusive, inspiring and respectful speech and took questions from sixth-formers.

“It was appropriate to hear from such a good and thoughtful citizen and past student as we look to the present and future in our new school. We take this opportunity to thank all our former staff, students and parents.”

Mr Lewin’s patient path to Westminster mirrored the school’s slow journey to this month, when staff and students finally moved onto the new campus at Beaumont Avenue.