Careers Visit to Ipswich Magistrates’ Courts
On Tuesday 4 March, a group of our Year 10 students spent the morning at Ipswich Magistrates’ Courts as part of an innovative educational project delivered by the ‘Thomas Wolsey 550’. Funded by Suffolk County Council’s Ipswich Investment Fund, the Thomas Wolsey 550 project offers a multi-faceted educational programme for children aged 5-16 to benefit from hands-on, confidence boosting activities giving ‘real life’ insights into career paths into organisations across Ipswich.
On arrival, the students were met by Mr Malcolm Hogarth, a Justice of the Peace and Bench Chair of the Suffolk Magistrates’ Courts and Ms Hannah Houghton from the ‘Thomas Wolsey 550’ project. Students heard from Mr Hogarth about his personal experiences of being a volunteer magistrate in Suffolk for the past 25 years. Mr Hogarth also explained about the roles of the other people in court and how a variety of criminal cases are dealt with. Students also learned the reason why everyone in the court room and public gallery must stand up when the magistrates enter and exit as a mark of respect to the monarch, King Charles III.
Initially, the group were expecting to sit through a mock trial but, to their astonishment, they were invited to sit in the public gallery and witness real people in real situations. The group was split into two and they each visited different court rooms to watch a number of sessions in progress.
Students, Bryanii and Mia said the first case they watched involved somebody who had been accused of assault. After pleading guilty, the defendant was fined and had to pay compensation to the victim of the assault as well as costs. Students learned about the different types and levels of punishment and how the final decision about sentencing can depend on the defendant’s income and possible previous convictions. Bryanii and Mia’s group also watched cases such as theft, careless driving, drink driving and assault of emergency workers.
Afterwards, students said how they found the experience thought-provoking and that it opened their eyes to future career pathways. Bryanii and Mia said they felt inspired to make a difference in their own communities because although some of the cases seemed minor, they are impacting the area in which they live. Students also came away with a very real sense of how easy it might be for anyone to find themselves in a situation that could land them in court, leaving them with a permanent criminal record and in financial debt.
Trip leader and careers coordinator, Mr Payne, said that “The students were excellent ambassadors for the academy. Our hosts were most impressed with the way they presented themselves, their maturity and the way they engaged. This was a unique experience for them and one which will stay with them for some time. Our students showed great empathy for what they saw at the Magistrates’ Courts and they are all very grateful to Mr Hogarth and Ms Houghton for making the experience possible. “
Bryanii and Mia both commented that this real-life opportunity has taught them all a lot about life as well as about possible career pathways into the legal profession.
Photo owned by Westbourne Academy
L-R: Malcolm Hogarth pictured with Y10 Westbourne Academy students