November 13, 2014 2.19 pm This story is over 112 months old

Lincoln pupils create flag for special elected gathering

Special flags: Pupils in a Lincoln village school have been chosen to create a flag to commemorate the first elected gathering in the UK.

Pupils in a Lincoln village school have been chosen to create a flag to commemorate the first elected gathering in the UK.

Pupils from Washingborough Academy will create the new flag to represent the Sleaford and North Hykeham constituency.

The flags are being created by schools across the country to celebrate the 750th anniversary of De Montfort’s Parliament.

De Montfort’s Parliament was an English parliament instigated by Simon de Montfort in 1265.

The members convened without the royal approval of King Henry III, though scholars conclude it was the first gathering in England that can be called a parliament, because De Montfort insisted the representatives should be elected and not appointed.

Washingborough Academy was picked by Parliament’s 2015 Anniversaries Team and they have to decide on appropriate colours, design and emblems.

Pupils have so far looked at ideas incorporating the RAF, agricultural and cultural heritage.

Once the design is finished, it will be used by Parliament as part of the celebrations in March 2015.

Washingborough’s flag will “fly” online via a digital exhibition and a limited number will be stitched into large flags to fly in Parliament Square.

Head Teacher Jason O’Rourke said: “This project gives us an excellent opportunity to engage the kids in lessons and activities based around the importance of democracy.

“It is often taken for granted but many brave people have lost their life protecting our democracy and we want out children to understand it and how important it is.”