Merry Brexmas Everyone!

At a time when many in the country are bored of and frustrated by the Brexit impasse, and angered by or embarrassed by their political representatives, it would be all too easy to roll one’s eyes at the news of another General Election, retreat into a cynical silence, and wait for the whole thing to be over as quickly as possible.

However, Hazlegrove is bucking the trend and seizing it as an opportunity to engage the children in the democratic process as they launch their own General Election 2019 campaign.

Director of Studies, David Edwards said, ‘This will be the most crucial election in a generation, shaping the children’s lives in fundamental and perhaps permanent ways. The children are invited to align themselves with political parties, and offer their views for our consideration, leading to a vote at the end of term.

Hazlegrove will be having break-time and lunchtime debates and hustings, an assembly or two where the children are held to account, and question and suggestion boxes, all with the aim of teaching the children how to discuss and decide in as civilised a fashion as possible, not necessarily how our own politicians have been behaving in more recent times.

David Edwards adds, ‘This is an excellent opportunity to engage the children in the democratic process, instil in them an understanding of the value of democracy, remind them of the privilege of universal franchise, and give them the opportunity to learn, listen, think, consider, debate, understand and accept’.

Each day questions will be posed to the children to encourage discussion and thought. Follow @HazlegrovePrep on Twitter to follow along with the questions using #HazlegroveGE2019

The Hazlegrove General Election will take place on Wednesday 11 December, it was democratically decided that it was not a good idea to clash with the Carol Service and mince pies. Perhaps it will act as an early exit poll ahead of 12 December – watch this space!