Rastrick High School students are in the dock – to learn about role of courts

THIRTEEN students at Rastrick High School spent their Saturday in the dock.

The year 8 and 9 pupils headed to Bradford Magistrates Court for the first round of the Magistrates’ Court Mock Trial Competition.

The competition aims to introduce the legal system to young people in an innovative and exciting way, giving them the opportunity to gain hands on experience. And they were named winners of the school contest.

Pupils got to take on the role of court staff and defendants.

Magistrates were Alice Lawton, Harry Hirst and Lauren Maltas, lawyers were Matthew Wilson, Martin Hush, Rebecca Morris and Myra Ahmed with Delyth Hughes as the legal advisor and Jack Sutcliffe as usher.

Witnesses were Matthew Hindson, Grace Goswami, Poppy Brown and the unlucky defendant was Tom Calvert.

English teacher Jonathan Adamson said: “Our students were articulate, confident, pleasant, endearing, I could go on!”

Rastrick’s Poppy Brown, 13, said: “It felt like all the hard work had paid off, every moment of dedication was worth it when they announced our name as winners. We were so proud to have represented the school so well.”

Rastrick High School is now through to the regional final, which will be held in May.