Stroud schools take part in mock trial competition (From Stroud News and Journal)

Stroud schools take part in mock trial competition

4:00pm Wednesday 13th March 2013 in News By Hayley Mortimer, Reporter

PRIMARY school children took the law into their own hands when they conducted a trial against a suspected vandal last week.

In an initiative led by local magistrates, Year 6 pupils from several schools took up positions as defence and prosecution lawyers, defendants, witnesses, magistrates and even court reporters to simulate a court trial as part of the annual Stroud Schools Mock Trial Competition, now in its 13th year.

The competition, which takes place over two weeks, saw children from The Croft School in Painswick, Berkeley Primary School, Whitminster Endowed School and Randwick Primary School take to the docks on Thursday.

Held in two rooms at Novalis Trust at Ebley House, the young teams acted out the trial of a defendant accused of criminal damage after allegedly spraying graffiti on a wall.

The children were judged on their presentation skills by real-life magistrates.

Organiser and magistrate Tony Howarth said: "The age of criminality is 10 so we thought we should show younger children what court procedures are like.

"It is a great learning experience as they can see what goes on in court and how the criminal justice works."

Twenty-five schools took part this year including Eastcombe Primary School, Chalford Primary School and Severn View Academy.