The Regulatory Mock Trial 9th November 2021

Essential interactive learning for members of the senior leadership team, governors, trustees, and directors.

“The practical mock trial exercise brought to life the reality of a court case hearing and the nature of cross examination. This element of the training was particularly engaging and provides participants with a genuine grasp of court proceedings. I would highly recommend the course; it’s a must for all organisations who wish to manage risks at a strategic level.”

Schools are complex organisations which face a wide and diverse range of daily challenges that can negatively impact on the safety of staff, students and site visitors alike. Protecting these people is an essential part of any school operations and it is the responsibility your Senior Leadership Teams (and governors, trustees and directors as appropriate) to ensure that the process is led from the top.

Health and safety law places duties on schools and their governors, trustees, directors and employees can be held personally liable when these duties are breached.

The Department for Education, in conjunction with Willis Towers Watson, has developed a bespoke training seminar, ‘The Regulatory Mock Trial’, designed to assist governors, trustees, directors and members of Senior Leadership Teams to understand the challenges they face in implementing compliant health and safety management systems, enhance the prospects of avoiding enforcement action and improve the school’s defensive capabilities where a prosecution is pursued.

The Regulatory Mock Trial

The training session will last 3 hours, to include comfort breaks and is delivered remotely via a Microsoft Teams platform. It consists of a seminar based learning process blended with audio visual footage of the trial, which has been specifically designed and produced to give delegates an authentic insight into the regulatory trial process related to an accident occurring in a school based setting. It includes a demonstration of how witness evidence and documentation is presented and challenged in court and will require those participating to be fully involved in the trial process and consideration of evidence as acting Jury members.

Specialist, practicing barristers act as the Crown Court Judge and advocates for the prosecution and defence to ensure that the Mock Trial is as realistic as possible.

The following link provides an extract of the trial footage: https://bcove.video/372Ioh2Attendees will be educated as to what is likely to constitute a breach of the duty, the factors that could influence the commencement of a prosecution and, through observing the trial process, will gain experience and knowledge in the following learning points:

• an appreciation of the importance of detailed documentary records and how they can influence the court and the weight and admissibility of evidence

• an understanding of how accident investigations can either significantly enhance or undermine a defence and/or a key witness’s credibility

• the importance of a witness’s performance and credibility at trial and an insight into the pressures a witness experiences whilst giving evidence at trial

• the risks associated with the instruction and use of contractors

• enhanced knowledge of how to improve defensibility within their organisation To Reserve Your placePlaces will be limited and will be allocated on first come basis. We will run a reservation list and therefore should your circumstances change it is crucial we are notified to enable another RPA member to attend.