Students from Sutton Community Academy won praise and success in the annual Magistrates’ Court Mock Trial competition, which introduces the legal system to young people in an innovative way.

Teams of pupils from years eight and nine compete in magistrates’ courts in front of current magistrates, prosecuting and defending specially-written criminal cases. They take on the roles of lawyers, witnesses, magistrates and court staff.

The academy’s team — Phoebe Beardall, Abbie Edmonds, Matthew Palin, Ben Else, Lewis Thacker, Gracie Hempshall, Connor Baugh and Neve Wall from Year 8 and Chelsea Stone and Kevin Bennett from Year 9 — defeated the more experienced All Saints’ Catholic Academy, Mansfield; Shepshed High School and Tibshelf School in the competition at Mansfield.

Kenya Wisniewski, another Sutton Year 9 student, took on the role of court artist during the first round of the competition.

Judges praised Sutton students (pictured)for their professionalism, effort, presentation and delivery as they won through to the regional finals. The youngsters then gave up their own time twice a week after school to prepare for the regional event and a new legal case, where Sutton was third with just single points separating the top three teams.

Teachers Graeme Brown and Vicki Tansley, who led the students, said: “The mock court trial competition has been a fantastic way for the students to gain insight, understanding and knowledge of the law in action.

“It has raised aspirations, confidence, self-esteem and achievement, and has been a way of providing excellent citizenship education for those who participated. Sutton Community Academy is very proud of their success.”