A team of determined Year 9 students from Abbey Park School in Swindon have returned from London after showcasing their budding legal talents in the national finals of the Young Citizens Mock Trials competition.
Travelling to Croydon Magistrates’ Court, the group faced off against some of the brightest aspiring lawyers from 11 other schools across the UK, presenting their cases before real magistrates in a courtroom setting. The event, held on Wednesday 2nd July, gave students a true taste of the legal world, beginning with a Q&A session with an experienced magistrate who shared insights into the many career routes available within the justice system.
Abbey Park’s team opened their campaign prosecuting against Gunnersbury Catholic School from Brentford, London. Despite presenting a strong argument, the defendant was found not guilty, although it was far from a straightforward outcome, with one magistrate on each side delivering a guilty verdict.
In the second round, the Swindon students switched to the defence against Waddesdon Church of England School from Buckinghamshire. This time, Abbey Park successfully argued for a not guilty verdict after a tense split among the judging magistrates. The deciding vote fell to the presiding magistrate, who ruled in Abbey Park’s favour.
Led by English and Media teacher Kayla Verlander-Simmonds, the Abbey Park team included Mia, Harry, Joshua, Thomas, Emmy, Holly, Toby, Tyler, Nicola, Emily, Oakley, Lena and William. Their teamwork and advocacy skills earned them a commendable sixth place overall, an impressive result in a national field of talented peers.
Reflecting on the achievement, Mrs Verlander-Simmonds said: “We are immensely proud of how our students performed in the competition and represented our school. The experience has inspired several students to pursue careers in law. We extend our thanks to Young Citizens, and to the Swindon court staff and magistrates who supported us along the way.”
Young Citizens’ Mock Trials have given thousands of students the chance to step into the shoes of legal professionals since their inception in 1991. By preparing and arguing specially written cases, students develop vital skills in public speaking, critical thinking and teamwork, whether or not they intend to work in the legal field.
Abbey Park’s success in Swindon’s local heats in March – where they secured awards for Overall Competition Winners, Overall Best Defence Team, Best Prosecution Lawyer (jointly awarded to Mia and Emmy) and Best Defence Lawyer (Lily) – paved their way to the national stage, where they have done both themselves and Swindon proud.
