Ilford pupils vote to remain in the EU in mock-up referendum
Year 12 politics students at Ursuline Academy Ilford created a polling station to enable the whole school to take part in a mock-up EU vote - Credit: Archant
Pupils at a secondary school voted to remain in the European Union in a mock-up referendum.
Cllr Bob Littlewood takes part in the EU debate organised at Caterham High School, Clayhall. - Credit: Archant
The vote, which took place at the Ursuline Academy, Morland Road, Ilford, on Tuesday saw 260 pupils voting to remain, while 122 chose to leave the EU.
The Year 12 politics students organised a debate and ran the polling stations to enable their peers to make an informed choice about the future of the country.
The 16-year-old pupils also presented both sides of the arguments to the rest of the school during a series of debates and Q&As.
Politics teacher George Irwin praised the work of the Year 12 students.
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“We were really pleased with the turn out and the great atmosphere.
“The Year 12 students were the ones, who managed to inform and infuse the lower school students.
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“The younger generations are very much in favour of remaining in the EU and that was reflected in our school.”
At Caterham High School, Caterham Avenue, Clayhall, students also took part in an EU debate on Monday.
Leader of the Conservatives at Redbridge Council Cllr Paul Canal and Labour Cllr Robert Littlewood went head to head to answer the students’ questions about the UK’s EU membership.
Ilford MP Wes Streeting, who was due to attend, had to cancel because Parliament was recalled on Monday to pay tributes to MP Jo Cox, who was killed last week.
Assistant head teacher Eamonn Casey said the students were very engaged in the debate and grilled the councillors with questions on immigration, the NHS, trade and human rights.
“The sixth forms are very involved and well informed. If they had the opportunity to vote, many of them would exercise that right,” he added.
