Education and Court Visits

Court Visits
Recommended time: 30 mins.
The program for group visits includes a visit to the Courts and a trial re-enactment. There are visits appropriate for both older and younger groups.

1) Viewing a Court in Session - Supreme Court in Perth; District Court in Perth; Magistrates Court in Fremantle. Provided there are proceedings in session, secondary students and adult groups may view the following trials from the Public Gallery:

At certain times it is inappropriate for secondary students to view some parts of a trial. Criminal trials at the Supreme Court include serious offences and at times the evidence can be graphic. Teachers should inform students and their parents of the types of trials they may witness. Please inform the FBLEC staff if there ia a problem in regard to this.


2) Primary school students may visit the Magistrates Court in Fremantle. Empty Court activity providing a detailed explanation of the role of Court personnel, courtroom procedure and protocol. The following activites are available upon request when booking your tour:

Trial Re-enactments
Recommended time: 50 minutes
Be a lawyer, judge, and jury using real legal wigs and gowns. Take the roles of witnesses and court personnel to act out Court protocol and procedures in trials based on real and fictitious events.


Trial Re-enactments for primary school students (Perth Centre):

 
Trial Re-enactments for secondary school students and adult groups (Perth Centre):

 
Trial Re-enactments at the Fremantle Centre:

 Download the Francis Burt Law Education Centre brochure.

Supervision Guidelines, Emergency Procedures and Public Liability Insurance

Supervision and Behaviour
Francis Burt Law Education Centre requires that all schools provide an adult supervisor to student ratio of 1:15. Therefore a class of 30 students will require a minimum of 2 adult supervisors.

Supervising adults are requested to keep their students well-behaved and in their groups throughout the visit. Please make your students aware of the expectations regarding behaviour prior to the visit as the court environment is very formal and any disruption to the court is unacceptable.

Emergency Procedure
Francis Burt Law Education Centre has an evacuation procedure for the whole centre, including the main exhibit floor and administration areas.
In the event that an evacuation is required, it is essential that all school visitors take directions from the appointed Supreme Court and Magistrates Court Fire Wardens.

Teachers can increase safety by always ensuring that they meet the minimum supervision requirements (see above) and by ensuring that students stay in their groups with their adult supervisors whilst at the centre and Courts.

Once evacuation from the building occurs, all visitors will be assembled at a common point. Teachers will then be able to do a roll call there and need to immediately alert the Fire Wardens if any students are missing.


Insurance Cover
All Courts, including the Supreme Court, District Court and Magistrates Court, currently have Public Liability Cover with Risk Cover. Francis Burt Law Educaton Centre has Public Liability Insurance ($20 million).

Supporting the Curriculum Framework 

The FBLEC Education Program supports the Curriculum Framework
The K-12 educational programs offered by the Francis Burt Law Education Centre effectively promote civics and citizenship education in WA schools and the tertiary sector. The FBLEC program is a relevant resource which supports teachers and students in achieving SOSE and English Learning Outcomes. It provides essential knowledge encompassing an Australian societal focus with particular reference to the Western Australian Court systems and encourages students to view themselves as responsible citizens. 


Natural and Social Systems 
Students understand that systems provide order to the dynamic natural and social relationships occuring in the world. (Students recognise that the number of social systems that exist vary both in function and scale.)

The legal system focuses on:

Active Citizenship
Students demonstrate active citizenship through their behaviours and practices in the school environment, in accordance with the principles and values associated with the democratic process, social justice and ecological sustainability.

The Francis Burt Law Education Centre Citizenship focus includes:

Core Values
Social and Civic Responsibility (Empowering students with knowledge and awareness of the importance of participation and citizenship, authority, personal responsibility and freedom.)