Magistrates in making at Baughurst school

A total of 17 pupils from Year 9 recently took part in the Mock Magistrates Competition at Basingstoke Magistrates Court, part of a UK-wide contest involving more than 6,000 pupils.
They were accompanied to the event by two teachers and a school governor.
After beating off stiff competition from schools across the county, including Brighton Hill, Basingstoke, The Hurst team proved victorious, after staging mock trials at which pupils George Williams, Maddy Ball and Laila Whiteway took on the roles of magistrates.
The school’s head of English, Laura Groom said: “Dressed to impress, this team debated and discussed with other magistrates to deliver the verdicts in each case.
“They were commended on their unbiased nature and were recognised as ‘magistrates in the making’.”
Other roles taken by pupils included court usher (Elara Oakes), legal advisor (Brandon Coyle), court artist (Charlie Haslam), and court reporters (Imogen Lund and Laura Parks).
The team are now through to the regional finals of the competition which are being held on Saturday, May 11 at Reading Crown Court.
Pupils from Year 9 at The Hurst Community College receive a county trophy as the winners of initial heats of a national mock trial competition from the chairman of the north Hampshire bench (pictured right) Beverley Jones, at the school in Baughurst.