Four students got a taste of local democracy following a visit to Huddersfield Town Hall recently.

Mya Bartholomew, Uzair Wasim, Brandon Dannatt and Kacey-Leigh Stones attended the Huddersfield District Committee meeting in their own time.

Sarah Taylforth, Citizenship Teacher (Humanities), of Netherhall Learning Campus High School, Netherhall Avenue, Huddersfield, said: “A group of Year 8 students have worked with Kirklees youth council during their lessons to discuss local issues and learn about local democracy.

“Since this project finished a group of volunteers have stayed behind school and worked with Michelle Ross from the KYC to create a Local Youth Forum which in November presented their ideas about problems in the area and possible solutions to the local ward meeting, which included the local councillors and community officers. Yesterday, four of the group were supported by Michelle to attend the Huddersfield District Committee Meeting. They were full of enthusiasm and engaged with the process as much as they could, it is a particularly adult-led meeting and can be difficult to follow.

“They were greeted publicly by the chairman of the district committee and ward councillor for Dalton, Naheed Mather. She made reference to them as Netherhall Learning Campus students and made them feel very welcome.

“The group are meeting after school to feedback what they have seen regarding local democracy and will be looking to meet again with local councillors so that they can discuss their ideas.”