2025 Year 6 Mock Trial Competition
The Greater Manchester Magistrates' Association held their eighth annual Year 6 Mock Trial Competition in June 2025. Sixteen primary schools from all across Greater Manchester entered. Each school was allocated to represent either the prosecution or defence in the case of R. vs Jo Stockwell in two simulated court rooms. The charge Jo faced was one of Possession of a Bladed Article in a public place.
Feedback from the Head Teacher of a participating primary school :
"The children had a fabulous time and the day created memories that will stay with them forever. Importantly, they also took some key messages about knife crime back to school with them. "
Two trials were run at the same time, with eight trials being held during the day. A Presiding Justice from Greater Manchester Magistrates in the Community oversaw the proceedings in each of the two courts.
The roles of the solicitors, complainant, defendant, witnesses, ushers, legal advisor, and Magistrates were all played by the students from opposing schools.
In each court there were three competition judges. Each student was scored on how well they carried out their roll. The total score for each school determined which school won.
The top priority was that everyone had a good time.
During the trials, we also conducted a Knives: Choices and Consequences interactive quiz workshop for all the students. This aligned with the mock trial subject of Possession of a Bladed Article in a public place.
Throughout the day other activities were arranged to further engage the students and reinforce key messages around keeping safe in the community. There were exhibits and activities organised by Greater Manchester Police, TfGM Travel Safe, British Transport Police and Early Break and Crime Stoppers. In addition, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service provided a fire engine and crew to talk to the pupils in the yard on all aspects of fire safety. The Greater Manchester Police also brought along a riot van and equipment for the students to experience.
It was a tightly fought competition in both court rooms. The outcome did not depend on the verdict of the trial or whether the defendant was found guilty or not guilty. The judges, all current Magistrates from the Greater Manchester Bench, evaluated each team performance on how well they argued the case and knowledge of the court process. There was also an opportunity for pupils who didn’t want a speaking role to enter the Court Reporter and Court Artist competition.
The students really embraced their court appearance and gave it their all. This year the overall winning team was Button Lane Primary School, Wythenshawe with Horwich Parish Primary School, Bolton coming a very close second and taking the Runners Up shield.
The awards were presented by the The Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester,
Mrs Diane Hawkins JP LLB.
For each of the sixteen teams that took part, there was also an award presented by the Lord-Lieutenant for the Outstanding Individual Performance. Every participating student also received a certificate of attendance.
Some of the students receiving their Outstanding Individual Performance awards
There are also awards for the best Court Artist and Court Reporter.
There were six entries for Court Reporter and seven entries for Court Artist. The standard this year was very high, and it was clear the students had put a lot of effort into their work. The entries were submitted some days after the mock trial competitions and were judged separately.
The winner for best Court Reporter was Tilly Hope from Horwich Parish CE Primary School, Bolton. Tilly was presented with her prize during the school assembly by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester Mrs Diane Hawkins JP LLB.
The Court Artist prize will be presented to the winning student during a school assembly very soon. We will announce the winner after this has taken place.
The Greater Manchester Magistrates in the Community team, consisting of over 20 individuals, spends the entire year planning and conducting the Year 6 Mock Trial heats and grand final competitions. These activities are carried out alongside their voluntary service as sitting magistrates.
The Greater Manchester Magistrates in the Community team are available to talk to students in both Primary and Secondary schools and other interested community groups about the role of magistrates and the law. They have a series of interactive presentations and can run a mock trial in the classroom on a range of different topics including Knife Crime, Cyber Bullying and Choices and Consequences facing young people.
For further information or to request a visit
please email us at enquiries@gmma-mic.net