Two Colfox students have been elected to the UK Youth Parliament.

Stan Bowden, 16, has been elected to represent Dorset as a Member of Youth Parliament and Saffi Pearse, 15, has been elected as deputy Member of Youth Parliament. Stan in Year 11 and Saffi in Year 10 decided to stand and run campaigns because they want to represent young people and improve lives.

In his acceptance speech, Stan said: "I'm honoured to be the new Member of Youth Parliament. I'd like to thank my family and my school for their support, my opponents for a good contest, and I'd like to thank everyone who voted - I will do my best to represent you to the best of my ability, thank you."

Saffi, who was elected deputy member alongside fellow candidate Kerim, said: "I'd like to thank all those who voted, every vote means a voice heard, and a voice heard means an equal and more fair society. I'd also like to congratulate Stan and wish him every success."

Students at the Sir John Colfox Academy enjoyed voting in the UK Youth Parliament elections and learning about the importance of democracy and how we can take part and make a difference.

Adam Shelley, headteacher at the Sir John Colfox Academy, said: "We are extremely proud of Stan and Saffi, congratulations to them on a fantastic achievement. It is brilliant to have two students from Colfox representing Dorset at a national level in UK Youth Parliament.

"Encouraging students to use their voices and take part is very important at our school. We are proud proud to be one of the only secondary schools in the South West region to have achieved UNICEF's Gold Rights Respecting School award, which recognises that students' rights are valued and their voices heard."

The UK Youth Parliament is run by the British Youth Council and provides opportunities for 11 to 18-year-olds to use their voice to bring about social change.

Natalie Burden, participation co-ordinator at the Sir John Colfox Academy, said: "Congratulations to Stan and Saffi, they have done brilliantly, we are thrilled to have two students elected to represent the young people of Dorset on the national stage. I know they are both determined and passionate to improve things for young people and I wish them both every success."

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