They may not be old enough to vote yet, but that has not stopped election fever from gripping the children at Burnham-on-Crouch Primary School.

For the last three weeks, children across the school have been studying the policies of the main political parties and have been deciding who they would like to lend their support to.  Posters have been put up around the school and on Thursday 6th May the staff and children went to the polls along with the rest of the electorate.

The party leaders Holly Mcloughlin (Conservative), Harry North (Liberal Democrat) and Adam Sheargold (Labour) gave their final speeches in a special assembly on election morning which was attended by a very special guest.  John Whittingdale the Conservative candidate for the Maldon area was both entertained and impressed by the speeches and had the honour of casting the first vote.  We don’t know who he voted for but think we can all guess!

Following the assembly, our Year 6 pupils had the opportunity ro questyion Mr Whittingdale about various political issues including a very cheeky question from Luke Robinson on behalf of his sister Laura about the MP expense scandal!

Meanwhile, frenzied last minute canvassing went on in the playground before the Ballot Boxes were placed in all of our classrooms and voting commenced!  The polls closed at midday with ALL those eligible successfully casting their votes.  During the afternoon, the candidates from all classes attended the count, three of which went to recounts! Returning Officers Rhys Williams and Jamie Pugh announced the results in assembly on Friday morning.

This was a landslide victory for the Conservative Party, who returned 9 class MPSs, with the Liberal and Labour Partys winning just one seat each.

This has been a fantastic opportunity for our children to lear and practise real life skills and they can still be heard in the playground discussing Gordon Brown’s resignation and our new coalition government.  I am not sure how many other 8 year olds across the country know that we have a Prime Minister, let alone his name and that of his Deputy!

It is hoped that the successful candidates from each year group will be rewarded with a trip to London to visit the Houses of Parliament!!!