From classroom to courtroom: Glyn School pupils see law in action

Pupils from Glyn School in Ewell found themselves close to the action in one of the most high-profile court cases of the year recently on an outing to the Supreme Court in Westminster.

Demand to go on the trip was so high, with nearly 50 applicants, that the trip had to be made over two visits, and in the course of their tour round the Parliament Square offices, pupils got to look in on proceedings in the inquiry into the death of former Russian security agent Alexander Litvinienko.

“At Glyn we teach Law A Level, so this wasn’t just a fun day out, it was a deeply practical part of the pupils’ study, which is why so many of them were so keen to come,” explained trip organiser Sophie Walmsley, the school’s head of Law.

“They also had a chance to take part in a mock trial in one of the appeal courts, with the group taking all the roles, and where necessary they even dressed up in the proper gowns and wigs – the surroundings made the subject come alive in a way you can never hope
to equal in a classroom.”

After the mock trial, other highlights of the trip included sitting in on real proceedings in the Royal Court of Justice and also a hearing involving five Supreme Court Justices discussing the Human Rights Act.

“This was an amazing opportunity for the students and I know they really enjoyed it,” Ms Walmsley added. “It would be wonderful to think that one day, some of them might even find themselves working there in legal capacities.”