PUPILS at Bradleys Both Primary School got first-hand experience of law by taking part in a mock trial.

Representatives from Walker Foster Solicitors, Tom Swindells and Jake Kelly, visited the school to prepare the pupils for the trial alongside class teacher Jane Hall.

The year-six pupils were taught about how laws are made, different aspects of law and the consequences involved when laws were broken.

The mock case involved one of the pupils, Elliot, allegedly stealing a chocolate bar from the village store.

Every pupil was given a specific role and the trial took place in the school hall in front of an audience of year three, four and five pupils.

The prosecution and defence lawyers had to examine the witness statements and structure an argument in an attempt to convince the jury they had the strongest case.

After an original verdict of ‘not guilty’ was reached, a surprise new piece of evidence arose as a year five pupil stormed into the courtroom proclaiming "Stop the trial!"

He was holding the missing CCTV footage providing the condemning evidence needed to persuade the jury to overturn its verdict and reach a unanimous ‘guilty’ verdict.

“This was a fantastic opportunity to bring real life and purposeful learning to the children’s curriculum," said headteacher Barry Rogers. "I was extremely impressed with how serious the children took their roles in the trial. The children thoroughly enjoyed their experience and learned so much about law.”