Hagley pupil's courtroom performance makes him top of the docks (From Stourbridge News)

Hagley pupil's courtroom performance makes him top of the docks

8:00am Tuesday 19th March 2013 in News

A HAGLEY pupil was top of the docks at a courtroom competition for youngsters to get lessons in law.

Pierce Sloan, from Hagley Catholic High School, Brake Lane, scooped the outstanding pupil award during the Citizenship Foundation's mock trial competition at Worcester Crown Court.

The competition gives school pupils a chance to see the legal system in operation by playing the roles of laywers, magistrates, witnesses, court officials and defendants in an imaginary case.

Year nine student Pierce played the part of the defendant and beat entrants from 13 other schools to the individual award, which was presented by Judge Robert Juckes QC.

Hagley Catholic High School's head of Law, Gary O'Brien, said: "We are very proud, he was in complete control and showed three particular features, he was very clear in his remarks to the magistrates, he was very confident and he didn't need to refer to notes at all during cross-examination."

The competition is run in partnership with the Magistrates Association and pupils spend weeks preparing for their day in court working with magistrates and solicitors to learn how to play their individual roles.

For 2013 students aged 12 to 14 years competed against each another in a specially written criminal case which involved an ex-soldier accused of assault.

Each school presented a prosecution case to the mock court with another school's team acting for the defence, their performances were judged by magistrates and legal professionals.

Around 400 schools take part in the national competition and this year was Hagley Catholic High's first attempt.

Although they were beaten to the chance to progress further, Mr O'Brien says the school will be back again for more cases in years to come.