This week, boys across the school took part in a full mock parliamentary election, gaining a practical insight into how British democracy works. For A‑Level Politics pupils, the exercise mirrored a real campaign with Upper Sixth candidates representing major parties, while Lower Sixth pupils acted as vote counters.
In the run‑up to polling day, candidates produced manifestos, posters and campaign materials outlining their priorities on issues ranging from the environment to the economy.
A special assembly gave each candidate the opportunity to present their platform to the school, developing their public‑speaking skills in the process. This was followed by a hustings event in the Memorial Hall where candidates answered questions from an engaged audience on topics such as climate change, immigration, economic policy and the proposed Universal Studios development in Bedford.
Lower Sixth Former Charlie, representing the Green Party as deputy, commented, “I found the hustings challenging as it required me to answer complicated questions on the spot in front of a large audience.”
Seven school constituencies took part in the vote, giving boys first‑hand experience of the electoral process and how individual ballots contribute to an overall result. Another Upper Sixth pupil, Alfie, said about the exercise, “I’ve learned that rather than trying to appeal to everyone, it can be more effective to focus on representing a specific group clearly.”
The mock election gave boys a grounded understanding of parliamentary democracy and the responsibilities involved in standing for public office. Alongside political knowledge, boys developed wider skills in communication, teamwork, analysis and critical thinking.
