Environment and Mental Health are Students’ top issues
On Friday, 8th November, Clyst Vale students voted on what were the “local issues” of greatest importance to them. You can see below the results for the six main issues which had been identified by students in their previous UK Youth Parliament vote on national issues. The main difference is that nationally knife crime is a bigger concern for young people than mental health, but at Clyst Vale these two issues are reversed; this is probably because of our location meaning that knife crime is less prevalent than in major cities.
The vote confirms that the environment and climate emerges consistently as the biggest issue of concern (and increasing action) for young people.
These results are a clear and strong indication of “student voice”, and the challenge is how we can and will respond. The student College Council will be discussing this in its meetings this term, with a view to building on and accelerating the various environmental groups currently in operation in the College.
The students engaged in the democratic process of voting very responsibly indeed. Special thanks to Mrs Battishill, Mrs Padden, and Sixth Form Politics students for their coordination and role as Returning Officers! Clearly, promotion of democratic principle and the right to vote is central to our Rights Respecting School, and specifically Article 12 which promotes respect for the views of children in being heard.
To find out more about UK Parliament Week, click the picture below: