Special Post: GCSE Citizenship Studies law trips

Our entrance to the courthouse was a long security procedure due to the seriousness of the matter: every bag and item we carried was checked, and we had to walk through metal detectors. Everyone who attended was subject to security practices. The courthouse operations were a reminder to me of the US justice system’s duty.

We stood in the centre of the courtroom among the various actors vital to the trial - the judge, the barristers, the witnesses and the jury. Each has a specific role to perform in our system of justice. And by watching that system in action, we witnessed the processes of evidence and cross-examination.

As students, the experience of seeing a murder trial before our eyes was highly educational. Often, we learnt about the need for justice and fair trial for someone who we have never known, or seen before. We came face-to-face with the public-interest aspects of judicial proceedings. The benefit of the law for society was first-hand evident to us when we got out of the courtroom. The event at the Old Bailey did not end when we left the courtroom; it made us think of our roles as global citizens and future change makers in their communities, nationally and internationally.

Aayan Rahman (Y10)

GCSE Citizenship Studies student

The Royal Courts of Justice is a result of a unique architectural competition that took place in 1868. Eleven architects, believing they were designing a cathedral, submitted their designs with the possibility of the building being placed on the Thames Embankment. The competition was fierce, but George Edmund Street was eventually appointed as the sole architect for the project. Sadly, he died before the project was complete and never actually got to see the finished building. It was interesting to learn about how the architecture of historical buildings in the surrounding area including the Royal Court of Justice reflected their purpose.

We also learn that Queen Victoria first opened the Great Hall in December 1882, which was reflected in the painting hanging on the wall. During our visit, we encountered many lawyers, who could be distinguished by their traditional legal attire including the wigs and black robes. Importantly, we learnt that those lawyers are known as barristers and represent individuals in court. 

As we made our way through the Royal Courts of Justice, we walked along different hallways, taking in the grandeur of the building. We had the opportunity to visit various courts, including the Court of Appeal. 

In the Court of Appeal, we learned that they hear appeals from proceedings in the Crown Court. Specifically, they deal with appeals against convictions in the Crown Court, and sentences given by the Crown Court. A Court of Appeal has the power to review a decision made by lower courts. This usually means if someone is unhappy with a decision made in court they can appeal to have it changed or their sentence reduced. It was also interesting to hear about how modern technology has changed the way the Courts of Appeal function. For example, when a prisoner has appealed rather than appearing in person the Judge can grant them the ability to appear via videolink to make the process more efficient. 

We were also lucky enough to have one of the courts opened for us. We observed many shelves of books and learnt about where the King’s Counsel sat in court. The many books included writings of previous historical trials that may be releveant to today so that a lawyer or judge may reference them during a hearing.

Overall, the tour of the Royal Courts of Justice was an enlightening and enjoyable experience that gave us an insight into all the things that we will continue to learn about throughout this Theme. 

Rola Al-Hassani (Y10)

GCSE Citizenship Studies student