Bill Rammell joined the pupils and staff at William Martin Junior School on Friday afternoon (12th October) to announce the results of their annual School Council elections.

The school held their elections last week using real ballot boxes and a polling booth provided by the Council. Each year group had candidates who had to set out why they were standing and what they wanted to achieve in their own personal manifesto. Candidates were then whittled down to four candidates for each class and the election was held following a hustings meeting of all the candidates.

The results were then announced at a special assembly on Friday afternoon where Bill Rammell spoke about his role as the local MP representing the pupils and their families in Parliament, and how important it is that young people get involved in the democratic process and make their voice heard. He then announced the results and distributed awards to the 8 successful candidates and their deputies.

Last year the School Council members were vested with responsibility for deciding what to do with approximately £1000 of funding and used it to invest in an allotment at the school and to support an animal project.

Speaking after the event, Bill Rammell commented: "It’s great that the pupils at William Martin have had this experience of the democratic process and that so many of them wanted to stand for the School Council."

"The School Councillors have an important role in the School with serious responsibilities. So I was honoured to be asked to announce the results and to have an opportunity to talk to all the new School Councillors about what they will be doing in the year ahead."