When the news of a General Election dropped, we were quick off the mark in organising our very own mock election at Francis Holland. This included a live debate, campaigning from representatives of five political parties and an ‘egglection’ resulting in FHS going to the polls on Wednesday morning to vote for their winner.

Live Debate on Friday 21st June
Question Time came live from Francis Holland last week, when a diverse audience of students and staff assembled in the Main Hall to interrogate some of the greatest political minds of the Lower Sixth. Representing the five largest parties in England, Gigi (of the Labour Party), Giorgia  (standing in for the Conservative and Unionist Party), Maddy (representing the Liberal Democrats), Bon Eve (arguing for Reform UK), and Skye (for the Green Party) bravely shared a platform, with a view to promote electoral awareness throughout the school. With confidence and competence, these Sixth Formers – all of whom study Politics at A Level – made informed and impassioned arguments in support of their allocated party, regardless of their own political alignments. Owing to the success of this riveting and respectful debate, students and staff of all political stripes were inspired to cast their votes in a school-wide ballot – with exit polls suggesting it’s anyone’s race! 

Mr Long, Teacher of English

Egglection Competition:

There were some great historic and current politician entries to the ‘Egglection’. Lots of creativity and great effort on show with a particular well done to our overall winner Daisy (LIV) for a very impressive Boris Johnson starting the Covid lockdowns! And well done also to Misha (IIIW) with Sunak and Emily (IIIW) with Starmer and to Sienna (LIV) with Churchill.

Mr Bollands, Teacher of History and Politics

Mock Election on Wednesday 26th June

A Level Politics students were given the opportunity to apply their knowledge of elections, political parties and voting behaviour by running in the FHS Mock Election.

From the moment they drew their rosette out of the proverbial hat, they all threw their political hats into the election circus. Speeches, hustings, posters, and debates are a challenge to even our most seasoned politicians; so how did our candidates do?

Somebody had to draw the short straw, and it was Bon Eve who picked out the Reform Party rosette. And she certainly gave it some welly, convincing some of our more naive voters through her sheer charisma and lucidity. Had she become radicalised? Of course not. Nobody wants to get the dreaded “nul” points. but Bon Eve, didn’t vote for herself, nor did any of the Sixth Form vote Reform. Linhope for the future?

Our two main political party candidates struggled to gain traction. Giorgia, our Conservative candidate, spent much of the campaign on defence, and while she made several telling points, wider forces were at work and the electorate had already made their minds up in spite of her valiant efforts. Out with some true blue loyalists in Year 9, it was a bad night for the Conservatives. Gigi for Labour offered detailed and fully costed practical solutions that often won the argument but didn’t necessarily fire the imaginations of the voters. Her issue led approach won support across the school, wining seats in Year 7, Year 9, the Sixth Form and staff.

In 2019 Francis Holland was hit by a Liberal Democrat tsunami as the party won a thumping majority; this year it was more of a “Davey wavy”. Maddy showed excellent communication skills in reaching out and connecting with the voters, especially in Year 10. In terms of popular vote and seats she was just pipped by Skye and the Green Party. Although physically absent from the assembly where the election was announced, her video from the streets of Edinburgh was slick, upbeat, and memorable. As befitting the school high jump champion, she set the bar Skye high.

So in the end who won? Well, nobody really. Although the Green Party won most votes and seats, they were short of a majority.

But in a way everybody won; our students became more politically literate thanks to the campaigns of five articulate young women who showed that politics needn’t be abstract and remote. Our students gained a broader understanding not just of the mechanics of voting, but also the fact that with this right comes the responsibility to do so in an informed and, considered way.

Mr Glavin, Head of History and Politics