Our Post‑16 students have been learning about democracy, voting and their rights as future adults, through a hands‑on experience delivered in partnership with the Preparation for Adulthood social care team.
To support pupils in understanding how elections work, staff and visiting professionals created a full mock polling station within the Post‑16 department. The space included ballot papers, voting booths, candidate information sheets and clear visual supports to ensure the process was accessible for all learners.
Throughout the day, pupils moved through each stage of the voting process, just as they would in a real election. They practised:
- Collecting and using a ballot paper
- Entering a voting booth to make a private choice
- Folding and casting their vote in the ballot box
Alongside this, pupils were introduced to and supported to complete their own Voting Passports. These passports help individuals with learning disabilities understand the support they are entitled to when voting in real elections—such as having someone read information aloud or helping with a large‑print ballot. Pupils worked carefully with staff to personalise their passports, identifying the adjustments they may need when exercising their right to vote in the future.
Pupils engaged enthusiastically with activities across the day: holding their Voting Passports, looking through ballot papers, working one‑to‑one with staff in the voting booths, and taking part in a busy mock polling area set up in the Post‑16 corridor. Displays and resources around the room supported learning visually, helping pupils make links between citizenship topics and the real‑life voting process.
This experience has given our young people:
- Increased confidence in understanding elections
- Greater knowledge of their democratic rights
- Practical, memorable experience of how to vote
- The reassurance that support will be available to help them take part
We’re incredibly proud of how well the pupils engaged and the maturity they showed throughout the session. A huge thank‑you to our Preparation for Adulthood partners for helping us give students such an empowering and meaningful learning opportunity.
