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23 January 2023
On Saturday 21 January 2023, after four months of hard work and preparation, 17 Year 10 and 12 pupils travelled to the Inner Crown Court in London to participate in the Independent School Mock Trial competition for the region. Young Citizens has run this active learning experience for many years, providing exposure to the judicial system, its venues and legal professionals.
This extremely prestigious competition involves pupils taking on most of the roles in a courtroom, from barristers and witnesses, to ushers, clerks and jury members, trying specially written cases and being assessed on the day by real criminal court judges. The scoring is based on criteria such as clarity, quality of arguments, accuracy, non-reliance on notes and timekeeping.
Facing stiff opposition from some of the leading schools in the region, after a tough series of rounds, pupils were delighted to make it to the final. Despite some understandable nerves when they realised the case would be overseen by no fewer than three judges, the pupils were articulate and confident and carried out their roles brilliantly.
After a tense wait the school was delighted to be announced regional winners for the second year in a row and is very proud of this cohort of budding lawyers, barristers and judges!
Maya, Year 12 said:
“It was really enjoyable. Particularly being in a real crown court with actual judges, it made it feel like an authentic experience. It was really challenging but rewarding. I have learned much about the legal system and has deepened my interest in a career in law”.
Head, Antonia Geldeard commented:
“I am very proud of our pupils for what they have achieved, for a second year, beating such strong opponents and making the most of this taste of the intricacies of the legal profession. Participating in the mock trial is a wonderful opportunity to develop confidence, independent research and public speaking skills – all of which are incredibly valuable throughout life.”
