Our pupils went to the polls last Friday for our very own Unity Academy 'general election'.
Groups of our students adopted a major political party each to represent, before writing their own manifestos and creating campaign videos to be aired around school. Classes throughout the entire Academy from Year 2 through to Year 11, then had to cast their votes to chose their winning candidate, based on their policies. The Labour party came out victorious, led by our year 9 pupil Katie Alston.
"I feel very pleased for our party, due to the amount of time and effort we put into our campaign" she said.
"The whole thing had been a very good experience and we're delighted to have won! We were the better party".
The overall voter turnout was fantastic, as 82% of students cast a vote. Katie and the Labour party emerged victorious with a total of 193 votes. The final results image taken just before the winning party was announced can be seen below:
Year 7 student, Tom McCord, representing the Liberal Democrats, said: "I thought the election was a great idea and good way to get people inspired" "I enjoyed everything about the process."
Conservative party leader Adam Girt, said: "We could have done better, but we did try our best and worked extremely well as a team. "The process has been good fun and I know a lot more about politics now. "I don't think I'll be voting Conservative when I get older though."
Molly Swarbrick, green party leader, said: "For our campaign we put posters up in every classroom possible" "Our campaign team were also out on the corridors and around the school during break and lunchtime, telling people about the Green Party and why they should vote for us!"
"Our party political broadcast focused on the need to stop the privatisation of the NHS, education and university tuition fees."
Our students hope their peers will be as keen to vote when they are adults.
SUCCESS: The Labour Party celebrate winning with an overall majority