A group of Year 8 & 9 pupils were crowned the winners of a mock trial at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court at the weekend, sending them straight to the regional finals in Mansfield.
Assisted by English teachers Miss Fletcher and Mr Latham, the group created a full case to be presented in court in front of a panel of solicitors and magistrates, who judged the competition.
The mock trial focused on a fictional crime – the theft of an iPhone in the street. The pupils had to represent the witnesses, solicitors, legal advisors and usher who would be present in court.
They competed against another school, presenting their case in under four minutes to prove who had committed the crime.
Miss Fletcher, who led the project, was very pleased with their performance.
She said, “This is the first time we have entered the Young Citizens Smart Law Mock Trials, and our team were very impressive in court.
“They had to create their opening and closing speeches, arguments for prosecution and represent the witnesses from the witness statements we had been given.
“After we had created our case, Mr Latham – who previously worked in the legal system - was able to help us go over it and ensure we were using legal terminology correctly.
“This really gave us the edge, along with the amount of time pupils gave to perfecting their speeches.
“They were incredibly proud to come home with their engraved trophy and certificates.”
This kind of opportunity helps pupils develop skills in public speaking, persuasive language and critical thinking.
The team will now move on to their next case ready for the regional finals in Mansfield later in the year.