Moulsham High School pupils have been learning about politics by holding a mock election. 

Thirteen Year 12 pupils organised the mock election for the whole Sixth Form and staff using props loaned from Chelmsford City Council. 

Adam May, a Sixth Former, said: "There's considerable apathy towards politics, and understandably so.

"The fact that the voting age has remained at 18 has a major part to play in this and it splits opinion frequently.

"Some adults, and even teenagers themselves, claim that they are inept at making decisions of this magnitude and, with the real event occurring on May 7, time is short, especially as there are still a considerable number of first-time voters unsure as to whom they will vote for or even if they will vote at all.

"However politics affects everyone.

"It doesn't mean that the system’s correct, but it does affect everyone and there’s no getting away from that.

"The political parties can preach about unrealistic ideologies all they want, but at the heart of politics is the electorate – or it should be anyway.

"As musician and BRIT award winner Paloma Faith recently told her sell-out O2 crowd and Channel 4: 'Vote now, complain later'; her message couldn't be clearer.

"We may not truly believe in all the policies, but we must vote in order to have our voices heard so that those in Westminster have no choice but to listen and to prioritise the people who make this country great.

In the run up to the mock election, which took place on March 26, the students produced a summary of some of the main policies put forward in the parties’ pre-manifestos and presented it to the various form groups in order to inform their voting.

Much to the delight of the Year 12 students who organised the event, the turnout was pleasingly high.

The fact that 81 per cent of Year 12 students voted in the Moulsham mock general election was remarkable, witnessing a turnout that saw 104/129 opt to vote.

Just ten of those 104 ticked the ‘None of the above’ option that was included on the ballot slips, alongside the Conservatives, Labour, Greens, UKIP and Liberal Democrats, to identify genuine political apathy where possible instead of assuming that people simply didn’t wish to vote.

Out of the 81%, male turnout was at 85per cent whereas female participation was slightly lower at 77per cent. 

Year 13 participation was slightly lower than that of Year 12 with just 64 per cent of males voting and just under 50 per cent of females opting to cast their vote, bringing the overall participation in the mock election to 68.4per cent – a more-than-respectable turnout and a 3.3 per cent increase on the turnout of the 2010 general election.

While the outcome of the mock election, in regards to which party won, wasn’t a priority, it was interesting to note that the Greens scooped a 37.4per cent majority which would mean that they would have to form a coalition or minority government if they are to serve in government.

Labour came second with 31% of the vote while the Conservatives came third with just 17.6% of the vote.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Liberal Democrats came last with just 4.2per cent, arguably reflecting their unpopular decision to increase university tuition fees to £9,000 despite their promises of no increase. UKIP finished slightly ahead of the Liberal Democrats, recording 9.6 per cent of the vote.

The students achieved their aim – people voted and seemed engaged with the idea of putting their views forward.

The electorate must recognise that the only way in which they can have a say in the future of the country is by voting and we hope that the UK electorate takes this on board come May so that together we can make those who should be accountable accountable."

Politics and History teacher Rob Flatt said: “The current Year 12 and 13 students responded excellently to the challenge and organised a very professional election.

"There is nothing like the atmosphere of a general election to encourage people to participate.

"We have seen, during the Scottish referendum, how turnout can increase rapidly and hopefully we will see this again with the 2015 General Election.”

Head of Sixth Form, Rob Greenaway, echoed this message. He said: “Young people are not sufficiently represented nor are their views always considered, but by educating and encouraging them we should see greater engagement.”