288 votes at the Student Union Election of 2024 at Thomas Hardye School.  Matthew Jolliffe, a Year 13 Student, gives a run down on the process of creating and building the Student Union Election.

The Student Union is an organisation aimed at empowering the student base of the Sixth Form.  It involves welfare work, environmental work, and charity work, having raised £373.06 for The Macmillan Coffee Morning Cake Sale for example.  The procedure for finding and electing their next student union members is a lengthy one.   The organisation began in January, having around 4 candidates from the Student Union, and they were told to start running campaigns in order to gain votes.

Jolliffe stated “I think it was very surprising how good the election turnout was in Year 12. We had nearly 17% turnout for Year 12, which is unbelievable.”  Jolliffe designed the ballot box and ballot paper; he reveals that there have always been Student Union elections, but after Covid it was on pause.

The union is a great opportunity for young and independent students to gain confidence whilst contributing to the welfare and improvement of the school.  Every young person benefits from having some form of student union in school, so encourage your child to take part in something similar if they have the chance.