The politics of the European Union were brought to life for students from Upton-by-Chester High School this week when they took part in a mock Council of the European Union.

Thirty secondary schools and colleges from across England gathered in the Cabinet Office in London at the event chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, to debate and make decisions on youth unemployment and air quality.

The event was organised by the British Council and the European Commission as part of the Comenius programme.

Each school represented one of the 28 EU Member States, the European Commission or the Secretariat-General of the Council. Upton-by-Chester High School represented Poland.

Molly Pritchard who was one of two students involved said: “I found the day particularly interesting because the topics we were debating, youth unemployment and air quality, are becoming increasingly relevant to my generation.

“This is illustrated by the release of new unemployment figures just this week. Researching Poland's stance was thoroughly enjoyable and I also gained an insight into smaller EU countries’ viewpoint like Latvia and Slovenia.

Head of History Elinor Suter said “This has been a wonderful experience for our students who have seen the inner workings of the European Union from the level of civil servants to ministers. Moreover, Molly and Will have seen the importance of negotiation and compromise in their dealings with other EU member states.”

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg welcomed the students and chaired the start of the session on youth employment. He said: “It’s important to get students and young people talking about the issues that have an impact on their lives; from the jobs opportunities they have to the quality of air they breathe, their voice and contribution matters.”

Chair of the British Council, Sir Vernon Ellis said: “I was very pleased to see how students grasped the issues and debated them with such passion. The British Council works hard to build and ensure cultural understanding between the UK, Europe and countries around the world through initiatives such as the European Union’s Comenius programme, and we are pleased to be able to offer events to our up-and-coming young leaders through initiatives such as the Mock Council.”