Model United Nations Conference Trip

On Tuesday, a group of Year 12 and Year 9 students attended the Model United Nations Conference at Bede’s School, near Hailsham, East Sussex.  Model United Nations is a new club in the Academy with the aim of developing the students’ global awareness, in line with IB values, and develop skills in research, cooperation, public speaking, and debate.

The conference was attended by students from fourteen schools, State and Independent, across East Sussex, Kent and Surrey.  Each school acts as the delegation for a country; our students formed the delegations for Canada and Botswana. 

The morning of the conference is spent in committees, which match the main committees of the UN itself, for instance international security, social, humanitarian and cultural affairs.  In the committees, Resolutions are tabled and Amendments are proposed, with delegates speaking for and against them.  It was great to see our students joining in the debate and discussion.

In the afternoon, a General Assembly is held with all the delegations together.  Just as the General Assembly was starting, a global crisis was announced: America had invaded Greenland.  This was followed by much lobbying and negotiating before Resolutions demanding action were debated.

This was a great learning experience for our students.  Despite it being their first conference, many of them contributed by drafting resolutions and amendments, and raising points of order.  Our commended delegate was Sophie for speaking in the General Assembly debate. The members of the MUN Club will be practising their skills ready for the next conference.