Political Success for Cronton Student

Cronton Sixth Form student Dean Leake has made a double impression after successfully gaining a place on the Liverpool City Region Fairness and Social Justice Advisory Board and was also welcomed as a guest on the BBC Radio 5 Adrian Chiles Question Time Extra Time show to join the debating panel.

Dean, previously from The Prescot School, is currently studying A Levels at Cronton was able to draw on his Government and Politics course to make a guest appearance on the radio debating show, as the ‘Politics Student of the Week’.

After being invited onto the panel Dean said, “I really enjoyed chatting to Adrian and the other guests on the show. As somebody who is looking to enter the journalism and broadcasting industry myself one day and as someone who loves discussing politics, it was great to get the opportunity to combine these things and participate on such an established national platform like BBC Radio 5 Live.”

This opportunity came shortly after Dean was awarded a place on the Liverpool City Region Fairness and Social Justice Advisory Board. After discovering the board was looking for more youth representation though his involvement with the Knowsley Youth Cabinet, Dean applied. After finding himself through to the final stage and taking part in a Zoom interview with existing board members, he was delighted to hear he had been successful. Dean said, “I felt ecstatic to be given the opportunity as I know that not a lot of young people have a similar chance to shape future policies that will affect the area they live. I feel really lucky.”

He has already begun his work with the board and is enjoying working alongside the other board members to make the region a fairer and more inclusive place.

Dean plans to study English Literature at university but has particularly enjoyed studying his Government and Politics A Level at Cronton. He said, “Studying Politics has contributed even more to my love of the subject, I would say it has given me the ability to see things from different perspectives and understand how and why people hold the political views they do. It has also allowed me to grow in confidence in terms of my own political views. The Government and Politics A Level will broaden your mind and I would highly recommend studying it.”

Claire Thomas, Government and Politics A Level Tutor at Cronton, said, “Dean is an inspirational student who has shown that the study of Politics does not have to be limited to textbooks. He is putting his knowledge into practice whilst representing the views of young people in the region and is ensuring their voice is heard in local politics.”