A SCHOOL-WIDE mock election helped students at Ballard School in New Milton to understand the democratic process in time for the General Election.

All students had a chance to find out more about the system with activities during tutor times and assembly time. Four students volunteered to take on the role of party leaders, representing the “Vision Party”, the “Transform Party, the “Progress Party” and the “Tomorrow Party”.

Students from Years 3-11 completed voter registration forms and were then issued with their polling cards. The four parties decided on their key policies, and the leaders each gave speeches in front of the whole school to persuade their fellow students to vote for them and their policies.

The private school even held a polling day, setting up a school polling station with voting booths which students were able to visit during their break time with their polling cards. The school had an impressive turnout of 88 per cent and after the count, the final winner was the “Tomorrow Party”.

Commenting on the mock election, Headmaster Alastair Reid, said: “The mock election is particularly relevant for those in Year 7 and above as they are likely to be eligible to vote at the next general election. As such it was great to see so many students getting truly into the voting spirit and really thinking about the policies each party offered before marking their ballot papers with a cross. Our four ‘party leaders’ should also be highly commended for their well-structured and passionate speeches.

"Considering we left it to the students to decide whether they would like to vote or not during their break time, the 88 per cent turnout of the mock election was fantastic -will the General Election be close to that?”