Festival of Democracy

Unfortunately, due to central government funding cuts, the Youth Parliament election has been postponed. The good news, however, is that the Youth Parliament itself will continue and Deer Park still provides the representative for Stroud and the Cotswolds. Tessa Barrett was asked by the Parliament to step into the shoes of ex-Deer Parkian Andrew Stallabrass as the 1st runner up in last year’s election.

Our festival of democracy for 2010-2011 kicked off with our new look School Council elections in September. The Key Stage 4 Council has worked well to organise the successful Key Stage 4 Charity Week raising over £1500 and is beginning to work on ideas in partnership with local organisations to improve the local environment including litter in and around the school and Cirencester in general. Our excellent Key Stage 3 representatives are currently planning the Key Stage 3 Charity Week and learning lots about representing the opinions and ambitions of our pupils. Miss Skerten, Head of Key Stage 3, has commented on the maturity and ability of our council leaders in taking minutes, running the meetings and getting things done - she even indicated these might be the best councillors yet!

Following the success of our Mock General Election in May 2010, the festival of democracy continues into 2011 when all pupils will take part in the a Mock School Referendum to mirror the referendum the government intends to hold on the 5th May. The topic of the referendum is still in the planning stages but will focus on the role of the royal family in the 21st century and will help develop our pupils' understanding of the different types of democracy we have in the United Kingdom and will help their transferable skills in debating and formulating an argument.