Pupils at Bradford Grammar Junior School have been bringing the democratic process to life by holding their own mock elections.
The Year 6 children adopted unique names for their political parties – Progress, Transform and Tomorrow – before electing party leaders and two deputies each.
They produced policies, which ranged from the abolition of tuition fees to more police officers on the streets, and made their own posters and rosettes. They then went before the school to explain their policies further and take questions.
Charity Orviss, the school’s Deputy Head (Academic), said the mock elections had really captured their imaginations.
“All the pupils have been very excited about the mock elections,” said Mrs Orviss.
“They’ve even been overheard in the corridors trying to persuade pupils to vote their way! Aside from the fun, it’s been really important for them to see how the democratic process works. Even in Year 2, they may be too young to fully understand what’s happening, but it’s allowed them to ask questions about it.”
In line with the General Election pupils turned the school hall into a polling station, complete with polling booths, voting forms and polling station managers.
“They’ve even been overheard in the corridors trying to persuade pupils to vote their way! Aside from the fun, it’s been really important for them to see how the democratic process works.
Even in Year 2, they may be too young to fully understand what’s happening, but it’s allowed them to ask questions about it.”
Be Social!