Primary pupils cast their votes
Youngsters at a Sunderland primary school have been casting their votes in the school hall.
The children at Grangetown Primary School from all age groups put democracy into action when they headed to the polling station.
Pupils from the Spelterworks Road school used their votes to decide who they wanted to represent them in the classroom in every year group.
Youngsters at the city school learned about the importance of democracy during their very own Election Day, which gave each of them a chance to make their mark on the ballot slip and post it.
The children at Grangetown Primary School voted in their annual School Council elections and all of the classes had to select two representative from each of them.
And, everyone in the school took the process seriously with candidates putting themselves forward for election.
During the build-up to election day, the candidates had to give speeches to their classmates, explaining why they deserved a vote and what issues were the most important to them.
They produced posters to explain what they would bring to the School Council if elected.
The children in each class weighed-up the arguments very carefully, asking lots of sensible questions before deciding which candidates deserved to get their votes.
Election Day itself was made extra special because Sunderland City Council kindly loaned the school an official voting booth and ballot box for the big day.
Headteacher at Grangetown Primary School, Les McAnaney, said the event is always a success and the children enjoy taking part in it.
He said: “We do this every year.
“It helps the children to understand how democracy works, and it shows them that their voice counts.
“This is important in our school, and these are valuable lessons for life too.”
The School Council at the Sunderland primary is made up of a group of 14 children.
These newly elected youngsters will now go on to work on ways to develop the school, taking into account the views of their classmates.
Recent years have seen the council make good changes.
Last year’s council, for example, worked on a project to provide new equipment and toys for the school playground, which was very successful.
“It helps the children to understand how democracy works” LES MCANANEY