SGS hosts young magistrates’ competition
Stockport Grammar School was delighted to host the Greater Manchester Magistrates’ Association for the local heats of the Year 6 Mock Trial Competition.
The competition saw six schools from the Stockport and Trafford areas take to the school’s historic Hallam Hall to battle it out as prosecution or defence teams in a scripted simulated trial.
The fictitious trial was based around online cyberbullying. The schools were tasked with prosecuting and defending a case of alleged use of abusive and threatening words and behaviour and had to determine whether the behaviour had the intent to cause distress.
Pupil Magistrates, supported by a member of the Greater Manchester bench, deliberated on the verdict at the end of the mock trial and decided whether the defendant was guilty or innocent.
Marks were awarded for communication, confidence in delivery, knowledge of their role and court process. The two winning schools will secure a place in the Greater Manchester final of the mock trial competition which will be held in June at Helmsley House, Salford.
As part of the initiative the Greater Manchester Magistrates in the Community Team offer interactive talks to schools, colleges and community groups across Greater Manchester to explain how the criminal justice system works and a range of choices and consequences workshops in topical areas such as knife crime, cyberbullying and drug use.
SGS would like to thank the GM Magistrates Association for sharing this fascinating event with us and wish them all the best for the finals in June.
For more information visit GM Magistrates Association’s website.
