Chippenham’s candidates for the upcoming General Election have faced sixth form pupils at Kingsbury Green Academy to discuss the issues our young people view as key focal points for the future.
With 2024 General Election being the first time that 18-year-old pupils of the sixth form are able to vote, a hustings event was organised for students by Andy Mitchell of Calne-based Mitchell Digital Media. Nic Puntis, Ravi Venkatesh, Ed Deedigan and Ross Henning on behalf of Sarah Gibson (candidates for the Conservatives, Labour, an Independent and Liberal Democrats respectively) took to the floor to face Kingsbury Green Academy Sixth Form students' questions.
Pupils posed questions to the candidates regarding various issues to hear about the parties’ policies and where they as individuals stand. Lowering the voting age, national service and tuition fees were hot topics, provoking much debate with candidates explaining their parties’ policies and approaches to both. Further enquiries were made as to how candidates would look to tackle local anti-social behaviour and their thoughts on how to build trust with politicians, generating much talk on the floor.
Other issues including healthcare, education, youth funding and support for young people were also debated.
Year 12 pupil Dillon attended the hustings, quizzing the candidates over their thoughts of whether 16 and 17-year-olds are mature enough to vote and so make decisions about their country. He said of the event: “I thought it was really good to help build trust and transparency with younger people. I’m not 18 yet but I would love to vote; I’ve got a big interest in politics and have been following the national election debates, as well as the ones in the US, very closely.”
Jason Tudor, Principal at Kingsbury Green Academy, said: “We’re very grateful for the candidates coming into the school to show our sixth form pupils how politics works in action and to answer questions about the issues our pupils see as the most important to our community.
“Our pupils, including those who can vote and those who aren’t yet of age, have been very engaged with the General Election. Hearing the policies and approaches by each of our local parties has really helped them understand exactly what the different parties offer and so they can make their mind up on who they vote for in an informed way. It’s imperative that our young people are actively engaged with politics and understand the impact that different parties will have on their futures.”
Kingsbury Green Academy is part of the Ascend Learning Trust.
For more information visit www.kingsburygreenacademy.com
