Our school was pleased to take part in the Northumberland Youth Elections, an important opportunity for young people to engage in democracy and have their voices heard. The elections give students the chance to vote for representatives in both the UK Youth Parliament and the Northumberland Youth Cabinet, empowering them to influence decisions that affect young people across the county. As a school, we are committed to providing students with real-world experiences that develop their social capital, and it was encouraging to see them carefully considering candidate pledges and engaging in thoughtful discussions.
Student participation in the election was strong, with many taking the opportunity to vote and engage with the democratic process. The polling station was well attended, and students approached the experience with a sense of responsibility and interest.
We are pleased to share that Year 11 student Isabella Samples was successfully elected to both the UK Youth Parliament and the Northumberland Youth Cabinet, receiving 2,378 votes for Parliament—over 1,500 votes ahead of any other candidate—and 2,758 votes for the Cabinet. Year 8 student Logan Jardine also achieved a strong result, placing 5th out of 16 candidates for the UK Youth Parliament with 404 votes. Their success reflects their commitment and engagement with student leadership, and we are proud of all students who participated, whether as candidates or voters.
Deputy Headteacher Mr Greenshields commented on the school’s involvement, saying: “Opportunities like the Youth Elections give our students real insight into the democratic process and the power of their voice. It was fantastic to see so many students engage with the voting process in a meaningful way, and we are incredibly proud of Isabella, Logan, and all those who stood as candidates or took part as voters”