PUPILS have been posing as politicians to debate national issues in their own school parliament.

Thirty students took on roles as Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green Party MPs at Pocklington School to help them learn about the political process.

The youngsters debated topics in a classroom set out as the House of Commons chamber, hosted cabinet and shadow cabinet meetings, heald surgeries and even created political posters as part of the project.

Upper sixth student Cameron Brown said: “We decided to follow the legislative agenda of the UK Parliament to give pupils hands-on experience of how laws are being passed, how government works and how the laws are affecting them.

“Political education has long been an issue schools across the country have failed to address, but allowing pupils to establish a working parliament is giving them the best political education they can have.”

First year student Harry Falkingham took on the role of Chancellor of the Exchequer and said: “Being Chancellor was fun and active and it made my brain think a lot. I particularly enjoyed making the new budget. I would advise anybody to get involved in school parliament.”

Head teacher Mark Ronan added: "There has never been a more important time to engage students in understanding the democratic life of our country.

“Younger people will face some significant challenges in their adult lives including climate change, housing, health care, the rise of the robot and conflicts – all issues that need rigorous debate – and words rather than swords are always more effective in resolving such challenges. I hope that the Pocklington School Parliament will flourish and foster debate that is characterised by our founding values: with courage and with truth.”