Students at Thurston Community College near Bury St Edmunds discussed issues affecting young people in Suffolk during a visit from their local MP.

Dr Peter Prinsley, MP for Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket, visited both the main Thurston campus and the Thurston Sixth campus in Beyton on Friday, January 30, 2026. During the visit, he met with College Principal Maéve Taylor and took questions from students aged 11 to 18.

Topics raised by students included a proposed social media ban for under-16s, plans to lower the voting age to 16, and access to local NHS dentists. Other issues discussed ranged from public transport and potholes to environmental concerns, student loans, knife crime and international politics.

Dr Prinsley also spoke about his role as a constituency MP, outlining how he supports residents through regular advice surgeries in Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket. He shared his personal journey from working as an ENT surgeon in Norfolk to representing the area in Parliament, and described his involvement in recent events and parliamentary committees.

Following the visit, Ms Taylor said the college was pleased to welcome the MP.

“Thurston Community College and Thurston Sixth were delighted to welcome Dr Prinsley to our campuses to speak with student leaders and A level Politics students,” she said. “Understanding the world around us and how we can be good citizens is an important part of the curriculum, and this visit offered a valuable insight into local, national and international politics.

“We were also pleased to talk to him about the proposed redevelopment of Thurston Community College.”

The college has recently unveiled proposals, alongside the Department for Education, for a complete redevelopment of the Thurston campus as part of the government’s School Rebuilding Programme. The plans would see major improvements to facilities for students and the wider community.

Dr Prinsley said he was impressed by the engagement shown by students during the visit.

“Spending time with students at Thurston Community College and Thurston Sixth was a real pleasure,” he said. “Young people are thoughtful, engaged, and passionate about the issues shaping their lives – from social media and voting rights to transport, the environment, and access to dentistry.

“It’s vital that their voices are heard and taken seriously, and I’m grateful to the college for creating the space for students to engage so openly with politics and public life.”