Year 8 and 9 Scholars Take Part in Magistrates’ Mock Trial
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A group of Year 8 and 9 Scholars from Co-op Academy Stoke-on-Trent recently took part in the Magistrates’ Mock Court Trial, an exciting competition designed to give students first-hand experience of the legal system. Held on a Saturday whilst the court was not in normal session, the competition saw six schools from across Staffordshire and Cheshire go head-to-head in a realistic courtroom setting.
After months of preparation with Mr Mackirdy, students took on a variety of roles, including magistrates, ushers, legal advisers, witnesses, defendants, and lawyers. They worked hard to analyse evidence, prepare arguments, and perfect their questioning techniques before stepping into court to present their case. Each school argued twice—once as the prosecution and once as the defence—giving our students a well-rounded understanding of how a real trial unfolds.
The teams were scored by real magistrates and legal professionals, who assessed their persuasiveness, legal knowledge, and courtroom etiquette. Although we were not the overall winners, our students did a fantastic job, demonstrating confidence, teamwork, and impressive public speaking skills.
At the awards ceremony, Julia Mitchell, High Sheriff of Staffordshire, and one of the Deputy Lord Lieutenants presented each student with a certificate and praised them for their outstanding performance and professionalism. The experience gave students a valuable insight into the legal profession, inspiring many to consider a future career in law.
A huge thank you to Mr Mackirdy and Ms Williamson for taking the students on the day, to Mr Mackirdy for his hard work and guidance throughout the preparation, and to our students and their families for their dedication and support in making this opportunity possible.
To learn more about our Scholars' Programme, follow the link below: