Hustings at The Canterbury Academy

On Tuesday lunchtime, the candidates for the school mock election took part in Hustings prior to polling day on Thursday June 8th. We had representation from the five main parties who are seeking election on the 8th of June. The format of a speech for a minute from each party and then open questions from the dining hall audience lasted over 35 minutes for each lunch session.

The candidates exhibited excellent oratory skills and confidence in front of a busy hall. Once the floor was opened up to questions we were able to see our year 10 candidates in an even more confident and adept light. Numerous questions were taken ranging from the benefits of legalising cannabis to the correct policing response to the Terrorist attacks in London and Manchester.

The visiting chair of the proceedings, a member of the Politics department at Christ Church University, was highly impressed and commented that a number of his first year politics students would not have spoken as well as our students or been able to respond so rapidly to the varying questions fired at them. I even had one Middle School student approach me and show me the most recent YouGov poll for our local election, which he had researched on his phone while listening.

It was a real sign of our students stepping up to a very demanding challenge, embracing it and exhibiting great political awareness and understanding.

If you teach or come across the students please compliment them on their performance and engage with them about the election and their campaign. The names below include the candidate and advisors for each party:

Green party- Amber Foxley

Labour- Rachel Limbu Jade Todd, Rachael George,

Liberal Democrats- Annabelle Selwood, Molly Talbot, Ellie Griggs

UKIP- Freya Strange, Ryan Jones

Conservative- Tom Heath, Rosie Hewett