CHILDREN may have taken over the council chamber, but the debate was probably a bit more grown up than normal.

Sixty pupils from 30 schools across Oxfordshire kicked out the politicians and had their own go at setting the rules in an annual Children’s Parliament event at County Hall on Tuesday.

The youngsters got to sit in the council chamber and discuss issues that were important to them, ranging from cyber-bullying to the environment.

The initiative is part of attempts to engage children in democracy, and to hear back from young people about what is important to them.

Batt School pupil Bill Mellis, 10, got the chance to take the chairman’s seat and direct the debate in the chamber.

He said: “It was really good fun, and the best bit was being in the chair.

“We were sorted into groups, went into the chamber and then voted on what we wanted to discuss, including bullying, children’s health and Ofsted rules.

“At the end of the day, we decided the best discussion we had was about bullying.”

He added: “One of my friends said it was the best day out ever.”

The county councillor responsible for children and young people, Louise Chapman, said the exercise was an important way for councillors to understand the issues important to children.

She said: “As a county council we are rated outstanding on our consultations with youth, and we are always trying to get a good range of young people to speak to.

“It was a very useful because they were talking about the kind of issues which are important to them.”

Cherwell School pupil Greg Holyoake, who helped organise the day, said: “It is a great way of building their confidence and showing them how political decisions are made. It also gives them a chance to express their opinions and ideas through debate.”