> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Hopwas students learn about democracy with Staffordshire County Council visit - URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/hopwas-students-learn-about-democracy-with-staffordshire-county-council-visit/ - Published: 2010-10-14T06:30:28.000Z - Updated: 2010-10-13T12:11:08.000Z - Author: Lichfield Live - Tags: Education, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 21:47, News Youngsters from a school near Lichfield have been showing off their debating skills. Twenty-five pupils from Thomas Barnes Primary School in Hopwas visited Staffordshire County Council as part of local democracy week. ![Cllr Matthew Ellis with pupils from Thomas Barnes School](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e3/90/e390c3da-0866-4d2a-8ffe-ca4999d7ce1c/content/images/lichfieldlive-co-uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/thomas-barnes-school.jpg "Thomas Barnes School") Cllr Matthew Ellis with pupils from Thomas Barnes School Children from years four, five and six formed three teams which each set a budget using a limited amount of money to fund Public Transport, Community Safety, Health services, Economic Development and Education. The groups each set three budgets which were debated and voted on until a final winner was reached. [Matthew Ellis](http://openlylocal.com/members/5220-Matthew-Ellis?ref=lichfieldlive.co.uk), Lichfield Rural East’s County Councillor , hosted the two-hour event. He said: > “The Thomas Barnes children were amazing. I’ve done abut 30 of these debating events over the last few years and this one, particularly, contained some really excellent speeches and very high quality, persuasive arguments. These events are of enormous value and after each one the kids clearly understand better how decisions are made as well as how difficult it is to make the budget balance. > > “The school and parents can be very proud of these budding politicians and I thoroughly enjoyed the morning.”