Election Campaign

Election Campaign

Since returning from their successful trip to the Lake District the children in Year 8 have been engaging in an election campaign.  Parties were formed and candidates chosen, thought was given to both the name and the logo for each party.  The children had a campaign budget which they could spend on rosettes, posters, campaigning emails and party stickers; this was intended to help each party get their message across. 

The children thought about how they wanted the voting system to be run, one person one vote was the final decision.  Time was spent discussing the need for one candidate to have a clear majority and how a second round of voting focusing only on the two front runners would need to happen if this wasn’t achieved.

Each party spent time thinking through their policies on health, education, defence and the environment.  The leader of South Norfolk District Council, John Fuller came in to give a master class on both preparing and giving a political speech.  The candidates then had a chance to use their new found skills whilst giving a speech in a specially extended assembly to the Prep Department. 

The children looked at the political poster examining what makes some successful and others not, they then all created posters which were intended to put their message across.  One of the final activities the children engaged in was Question Time, a session of questions and debate in front of children from Years 6 and 7.  The children also took part in hustings around the school before the voting began. 

The voters’ intentions were sought and graphs created looking at the most popular party, candidate and important political issue.

91% of those eligible to vote did so in the School Library using official voting booths.  The results were announced at the School Fete by Sandra Hitchings, the Returning Officer for South Norfolk District Council.

Congratulations should go to Tom Lomax and the other members of the Pelican Party. However, all the children in Year 8 entered into the spirit of the election activity having lots of fun over the week, but more importantly learning lifelong lessons about the political system in our country. Thanks must go to John Fuller, Sandra Hitchings, Belinda Eames and all the teaching staff who contributed ideas and fulfilled their role as United Nations observers with aplomb!

Election Posters

Tom Lomax Election Speech Video