In what could prove to be a prediction of voting in the wider constituency – or even the country – 72% of the student body at Rossett School exercised their right to vote on Friday, 1 May 2015.
A total of 13 candidates from Years 7, 8 and 9 put themselves forward for election, representing the five major parties: the Conservatives, Green Party, Labour, the Liberal Democrats or UKIP.
They each gave speeches to their electorate and took part in hustings events, before students from every year group cast their votes.
Sociology teacher Luke Blackburn, who coordinated the election, said: I was really impressed by the way the candidates conducted themselves throughout their campaigns, and by the mature attitude of all the students in questioning the candidates and casting their votes.
We can teach them about the political process in lessons, but there is no substitute for getting involved and seeing democracy in action. Many of our students will be old enough to vote in the next General Election, so this experience will encourage them to play an active part.
The mock election was run as part of a project by the Hansard Society, funded by the Government, to encourage the next generation of voters to become involved in politics, either by joining a party and standing as a candidate or by voting. As well as the speeches, hustings and voting, students took part in activities designed to help them understand the democratic process and the way elections work.
Students focussed on key election issues, such as education, employment, immigration and taxes in their campaigns.
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