QPHS magazine - Spring Term 2025 - Magazine - Page 16
MAGISTRATES9 MOCK TRIAL
Students take on the courtroom at Sefton
As part of our after-school extracurricular programme, 13 students from
Years 8, 9, and 10 have been working
with Mr Bell and Mrs Ward to run their
own Magistrates9 Court. Since
September, they have dedicated their
time each week during lunchtimes and
after school to prepare for their day in
court.
To help them perfect their skills, on
11th March we invited in a professional
- former magistrate Stuart Clarke, who
led a mock trial masterclass with our
students. This session provided
valuable insight and expert feedback
on their roles, ensuring they were
prepped and ready for competition day.
On Saturday 15th March, our students
got up early, dressed to impress and
headed off to experience a real
courtroom setting at Sefton
Magistrates9 Court to compete in the
Smart Law Magistrates9 Mock Trial!
This competition involved our students
going head to head against four other
schools, including Neston High School,
De La Salle School, All Saints Catholic
High School, and North Liverpool
Academy.
While the experience was undoubtedly
nerve-wracking for some, it proved to
be an invaluable opportunity to develop
public speaking, teamwork, and critical
thinking skills in a truly authentic
courtroom environment.
The case, The King vs Skye Davidson,
revolved around a football-related
altercation in which a fan was accused
of threatening a rival supporter with a
broken bottle. The defendant, Skye
Davidson, was charged with
possession of an offensive weapon in
public under Section 1 of the
Prevention of Crime Act 1953 and
pleaded not guilty.
