Year 9s attend Crown Court Trip

40 Year 9 students attended Bristol Crown Court where they met with a Judge and sat in on some live court cases. The students spent an hour with a judge, court clerk and court usher, understanding each of their roles and how they are important to ensure a court room runs smoothly. The judge informed the students about their typical day which can be split into the following areas:

To hear the defendants’ plea (guilty or not guilty); they would then set the trial date depending on the response; oversee a trial; and finally be responsible for the sentencing.

The students were able to ask questions about Law, crime and punishment. They also sat in the court gallery and watched a variety of live cases and were able to see witnesses and the defendant cross examined by both the prosecution and defence.

This was a fantastic opportunity that the students enjoyed the experience and saw first-hand how the criminal justice system works.