Election fever took hold last week, not in Westminster or at Birmingham City Council, but in the classrooms and corridors of Bournville All-Through School where students staged their own full-scale mock election to choose a new Head Boy and Head Girl.
The exercise, designed to mirror real democratic processes taking place across the country during local elections, saw Year 10 candidates campaign, produce manifestos, give speeches, and compete for the votes of their peers in a school-wide ballot.
After a day of last-minute campaigning, voting and counting on Friday May 8, Year 10 students Cael Mohanraj and Connie Walton were declared the winners, with the runners-up becoming their deputies.
Connie said: “I’m honestly so excited to be Head Girl, I’ve wanted this since I was in Year 7. I’m so pleased to know people voted for me and that they’re placing their trust in me to lead the school.
“Campaigning has been such an exciting opportunity, I’ve never done anything like this before and it’s surreal to have people knowing my name and coming up to me with their ideas.”
Connie campaigned on a manifesto that included pushing for more school trips, subsidised by fundraising efforts like non-uniform days, while Cael pledged to back more student-led clubs and events.
He said: “I’m very thankful to have been chosen as Head Boy, and I want to thank everyone in the school who supported me. I plan on fulfilling my manifesto, and I’m very excited for the future.
“I’ve enjoyed campaigning and speaking to students during their assemblies. The election process has been a new challenge for me and my fellow candidates, and I think we’ve all done really well. It’s given me a lot of confidence to go out into the world and speak.”
The ambitious week of activities aimed to teach Bournville students about civic values and the democratic process, while building their leadership skills.
Supported by Assistant Principal Holly Poole, the candidates campaigned throughout the school, producing posters, stickers and election leaflets, and sharing their manifestos at two hustings-style assemblies.
Then, on Friday, polling stations were assembled, complete with a vintage ballot box, to give students the full experience of voting in an election.
With Cael and Connie declared the winners, the runners-up – Ellie Bowers, Honey Walsh, Calum McLeister and Kymani Bertram – will serve as Deputy Head Prefects.
Vicki Middleton, Subject lead for Religious Studies and PHSE, said: “We not only taught students about democracy and the elections currently taking place across the country but encouraged them to engage in democracy themselves.
“It means that when they go out into the wider world and vote for real, they have some experience with listening to different political campaigns and making the right choice.”
Assistant Principal Holly Poole said: “It was inspirational to see how everyone at Bournville engaged with the election week activities, from the staff to the students.
“As well as helping the students understand how democracy works, it also reinforced the fundamental British values which are reflected in all aspects of Bournville’s curriculum.
“It’s also especially relevant with 16-year-olds being able to vote in the next General Election, something we’ve discussed and debated extensively with our GCSE students in PSHE lessons.”