A long line of Cockburn School Youth Parliament success

A long line of Cockburn School Youth Parliament success

Mikey Marsden, a Year 11 student at Cockburn School has become the latest student to successfully be elected to serve as a UK Youth Parliament member.

The United Kingdom Youth Parliament is a Parliament-based model which aims to bring together and empower young people from all areas of the UK to ensure that young people are involved at the heart of decision-making in our country. Mikey will be a member for the next two years with a focus on local and national campaigns with other members from Yorks and Humber. There are three members for Leeds, each representing approximately 30k young people in Leeds. Members have no political allegiance with their work addressing key issues. Members have monthly online and local meetings. Their work also involves emailing and engaging with local MPs. Twice a year, they will travel to House of Commons, funded by the UK parliament.

Mikey is not the first Cockburn School student to be a member of the UK Youth Parliament. To celebrate his success, the school put him together with three former students and UK Youth Parliament members.

• Zani Cai, Cockburn Class of 2025, is now studying A-Levels at Notre Dame College in Leeds. She handed over to Mikey at a formal dinner hosted at the Leeds City Council buildings.
• Tian Cai, Cockburn Class of 2022, is now studying at Durham University in her second year of a Combined Social Science degree.
• Shamim Miah, Cockburn Class of 2013, went on from Notre Dame College to study Law at Huddersfield University before gaining his Masters Degree in Law at The University of Law. He now works at Ison Harrison Solicitors in the Corporate Law team. He is also a member of the Governing Body at Cockburn School and is standing in the upcoming local councillor elections as Labour Candidate for Ardsley & Robin Hood.

Shamim gave this advice to Mikey: “Put yourself forward. Speak at the dispatch box. Stand up on the back benches and ask questions. Document this experience for your future.”.

Tian added: “Make friends. Enjoy learning from and working with others.”

Mikey Marsden said, “Being a Member of Youth Parliament means that I will get to vote on issues that affect young people around the UK, and work with other members to ensure that we can make a positive difference to Leeds and the UK. My manifesto focuses on increasing accessibility for young people with SEND around the country. As a young disabled person, I've come to realise how inaccessible the UK can be, and I want to change that using not just my own lived experience, but the experience and voice of so many in our region.”

David Gurney MBE, Executive Headteacher and CEO of the Cockburn Academy Trust, said “The students, past and present, represent the importance of making a difference for the local community. I am very proud of them all and look forward to seeing how their lives move forward and the impact they will have on others.”

Rob Dixon, Headteacher at Cockburn School said, “I am extremely proud of Mikey and the rich history of UK Youth Parliament members from our school. Their confidence and aspiration to represent their fellow young people is excellent.”