STUDENT politicians have been formulating campaigns for an academy election with the help of 'real' Parliamentary candidates who are aiming to secure victory in Blyth on May 7.
The main political party candidates for the Blyth Valley constituency, including sitting Labour MP Ronnie Campbell, spent a morning at Bede Academy, explaining their policies and supporting the students who have put themselves forward to represent each party.
The students will be given a platform in whole school assemblies and a room for their party headquarters in the run-up to a mock academy election on May 7 when all Bede students and staff will have a chance to vote for their chosen candidate.
Aiesha Greer and Thomas Brown discussed policies with Liberal Democrat candidate Philip Latham, who said: "I have been very impressed by the students' enthusiasm."
Aiesha added: "I've read through the manifesto and there's a lot I agree with. The Liberal Democrats have a strong philosophy and principals that have kept the Conservatives in check in coalition and they seem really focused on young people."
UKIP candidate Barry Elliott coached the students in party policies on immigration, Europe, women's rights and the NHS.
He said: "The students have got a thorough knowledge and good understanding of the policies and I believe they will represent the party in the way we'd want them to."
Student Daniel Collins, who is supported by Charlotte Harrison-Wear, said: "UKIP seem dedicated to helping people, not making fake promises. They've been made out to be the bad boys of politics but when you study the policies they have some very good arguments."
Green Party candidate Dawn Furness coached her student team in how to avoid being drawn into sniping political debate.
"You have to try and rise above it and get across the fact that we are different because we have a different ethos for a visionary society that's fairer and more tolerant," she said.
Green student candidate Ryan Dixon, supported by Josh Aisbitt, predicted that issues like university tuition fees, affordable travel and the minimum wage would resonate with Bede voters.
The Labour team of Matthew Butcher and Chris Haley also expect to focus on increasing the minimum wage, scrapping the bedroom tax, building more houses and allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to vote.
Matthew said: "Under 19s make up a quarter of the local population so we think those issues will be Labour's big selling points."
Conservative candidate Greg Munro will visit the academy at a later date and student candidate Christopher Matthews, helped by Phoebe Rycroft, said: "The manifesto pledges are achievable; they haven't promised anything they can't fulfil."
Vice principal Steve Nelson said the students would spend the next two weeks selling themselves and their party's policies.
He added: "We are very grateful to all the candidates for spending the morning with our students, helping them develop clear strategies for their campaigns, understand their party's policies and giving a flavour of the kind of questioning they might face during the course of the campaign."
Sixty-five Year 13 students at the academy will be eligible to vote in the General Election and all the 'real' candidates have pledged to return to speak to them before May 7.