Sixth Formers Become Decision Makers

Senior pupils at Greenhill School in Tenby have been given an insight into the work of local government.

Pembrokeshire County Council's sixth form conference, entitled Your Council ... Your Call, visited the school recently to mark Local Democracy Week.

The day-long event is based upon managing a local authority, such as the County Council, and pupils role-play senior officers of the Authority's who have to prepare a draft Capital Budget for the forthcoming year.

By taking decision-making into the classroom, students have to decide, for example, if it is better to amalgamate three small primary schools in the local community for one purpose built school a few miles away, or should money be spent on a respite care centre for people with learning difficulties instead of providing a new all-weather leisure complex ?

Later pupils present their proposed budget and also prepare and submit a press statement in response to an enquiry from the media.

At the end of the day each member of the best team of officers is presented with a prize. Team members are judged on communication skills, working together, producing and delivering a presentation and producing a press release.

Councillor John Davies, Pembrokeshire County Council Cabinet member for Children, Young People and the Welsh Language, who presented the prizes, said the conference helped pupils to understand the challenges faced by councillors and officers in setting budgets.

"It is an opportunity for students to get an insight into local government and the wide range of services delivered by their local authority" he said.

"It also emphasises the relevance and importance of voting and also introduces young people to the range of career opportunities within the Council."

Photograph: Council marketing officer, Greg England, with Greenhill pupils who role-played officers. From the left they are: Kelly Matthews, Sophie Evans, Jamie Smith, Kate Williams, Sophie Fleming and Chris Morgan.