FIVE of the six General Election candidates in the Taunton and Wellington constituency visited Court Fields School this week for a hustings-style session with pupils from there and two other schools in the town.

The candidates engaged with Court Fields years seven to 10, and year five representatives from Wellesley Park Primary School and year three from Isambard Kingdom Brunel Primary School.

The two primary schools with Court Fields are part of the Blackdown Education Partnership.

A lively discussion saw questions cover a wide range of local and national issues, including education, the environment, sports facilities, transport, mental health support, and the NHS.

The candidates also addressed broader questions related to democracy, manifesto pledges, and their party credentials.

Wellesley Park headteacher Carly Wilkins said: “It was great experience for our students to learn more about politics and ask questions that they devised themselves, as they are our future voters.”

Pupils from Court Fields, Wellesley Park, and Isambard Kingdom Brunel schools with staff and Parliamentary candidates who attended a hustings-style event in Wellington.
Pupils from Court Fields, Wellesley Park, and Isambard Kingdom Brunel schools with staff and Parliamentary candidates who attended a hustings-style event in Wellington. ( )

The event formed part of a tailored personal development programme the ‘Court Fields Experience’.

Court Fields head Polly Matthews said: “It was fantastic to be able to arrange this visit at such a busy time in the last four days of canvassing for votes, and we appreciate the party representatives giving up their time.

“Our students, and those from Wellesley Park and IKB were superb, asking insightful and appropriately challenging questions of the prospective MPs.

“A key element of our personal development curriculum is the ability to frame learning as part of a bigger picture, with real life links, and this has helped our students, as well as those from within the trust, to deepen their understanding around democracy and the UK political system.

“Through events such as this, in assemblies and our tutor programme throughout this week, we will ensure our education around the General Election helps our students to understand the UK Parliamentary system, democracy, and the importance of the vote, culminating in our own in-school mock election on Thursday to mark General Election Day.”

The Parliamentary candidates taking part were Rebecca Pow (Conservative), Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrat), Charles Hansard (Reform UK), Ryan Trower (Green), and Brenda Weston (Labour).