Sixth Formers Visit Portsmouth Magistrate’s Court

On Wednesday 7th March seven Churcher’s pupils visited Portsmouth Magistrate’s Court for a visit hosted by local Magistrate, Mrs Annette Burgess JP as part of our ongoing ‘Career Bites’ programme.

The day before, Mrs Burgess came to visit Churcher's College to talk to the pupils about being a Magistrate as well as how a Magistrate’s Court works and it’s functions, which set the scene perfectly for the visit the following day.

On arrival at the Court, the group had a behind-the-scenes tour and looked at a Courtroom before the sitting started. Mrs Burgess talked through the people who would be present in Court, where they would be sitting and their roles.

We were very lucky to have District Judge Arnold sitting that morning and witnessed a number of cases being tried by her. For 2 hours the reality of deprivation, chaotic lifestyles and drug and alcohol addiction played out in front of us.

The visit concluded with a debrief and discussion about the cases seen that morning. The pupils agreed unanimously that the morning had opened their eyes both to how the Law worked and the fairness and compassion it is administered with.