PUPILS found themselves in the dock – and behind the bench – as they took part in mock trials as part of a national competition.
Students from the Howard of Effingham School in Bookham and The Ashcombe School in Dorking were joined by youngsters from seven other schools from Surrey and Sussex for the area heat at Redhill Magistrates' Court.
Working in teams of 13, the 12 to 14-year-olds went head to head, taking the role of prosecution, defence, and even posing as defendants, witnesses and magistrates in a case of battery.
Those judged to have performed the best were declared winners by a panel of Surrey magistrates.
Bob Crawley, a magistrate at Redhill who organised the event, said: "The pupils work incredibly hard preparing for it because the vast majority of schools do it in their own time.
"For many it is the first time they have ever done any public speaking.
"They have got an audience not only of their peers but magistrates and other legal professionals so it is quite daunting, and they rose to it magnificently.
"There were some very high standards, and talking to them in the recess there was a real buzz, they really rose to the occasion and enjoyed it.
"And they got a lot of satisfaction from working in a team."
Most of the children are unlikely to have stepped foot in a court building before, he said.
"It impacts on them.
"They realise it is very daunting getting a criminal record and the implications of that.
"I think the more young people know about the legal system, the better."
The Ashcombe team claimed second place overall in the competition, held on Saturday, March 16, and will go forward to the regional final held at Bournemouth Magistrates' Court in May.
Ashcombe pupil Isaac Wheatley also won the third place individual prize, awarded by the organisers to the pupils who displayed the best confidence, knowledge and fluency when speaking.
David Blow, Ashcombe's head teacher, said: "The team worked very hard over the last four months rehearsing their roles in preparation for defending and prosecuting a mock trial.
"We are delighted that their efforts were rewarded, with Isaac Wheatley winning an individual prize for his role as the court usher and the team were thrilled to be the first-placed Surrey school and second place overall."
He added: "This was an especially pleasing result, as a large number of the team were from Year 8 and as such some of the youngest competitors involved."
