CONSCIENTIOUS Redditch students are taking to the polls after being inspired by a democracy project run by the elections team at the Borough Council.

Sixth form pupils from Pitcheroak School have been working with the Electoral Services Team to find out about how the voting process works.

Their experiences included a mock poll, deciding what they feel makes a good councillor and visiting the town hall to interview members, all of which have inspired them to hold their own ballot to elect a student council for the whole school.

The election, which sees all 13 classes taking part, will run like ordinary elections so students can see exactly what happens in a polling station. They will have the full voting experience which will include pictorial ballot papers provided by officers to make it as real as possible.

Local councillors and politicians will attend to observe the election and count which will take place in the school gym on Wednesday, October 8.

Councillor John Fisher, whose portfolio covers democratic services, said: “I have been working with these students as part of this project and I am delighted that they are so interested in how local government works.

“Now they will able to see the democratic process in action and how their vote can make a difference in a decision that will affect their day to day lives at school.

“We wanted to make the experience as real as possible and it’s great to see all the pupils, from the youngest to the oldest, using their vote – after all they are the voice of the future. I hope other people are inspired by them to use their vote at future elections.”