On Saturday 8th March, 8 of our Year 8 Students competed in the regional heat of the Magistrates Court Mock Trial Competition at Reading Crown Court. The Magistrates’ Court Mock Trial Competition is a practical and challenging way to educate young people about their legal rights and responsibilities, the criminal justice system, and the legal process and profession generally, while at the same time improving their public speaking, analytical and team-working skills. The competition involves teams of young people aged 12-14 from non-fee-paying schools across the UK presenting opposing sides of specially written criminal cases in real Crown Court buildings. The students take on the role of barristers, witnesses, court staff and magistrates, and their performances are judged by real magistrates.