A PAIR of politics students at Budmouth College have been given the vote of approval in a national competition.

Rhys Tanner and Evie Gibson, both aged 17, have won this year’s Political Studies Association’s Student Video Competition with their submission exploring changing politics in the media.

Sixth form students from across the country were invited to submit a four-minute video exploring the theme – What is the media doing to our politics? – and the finalists were invited to the Houses of Parliament where they were quizzed on their entries.

Rhys said he could not believe it when they were announced as the winners at the event, which were held earlier this month.

He said: “Our video was shortlisted in late October and we were invited to the finals where we were interviewed by a panel of judges at the Speaker’s Chamber.

“The panel consisted of the Speaker John Bercow, political activist Doreen Lawrence, professor of politics at Leicester University Prof Jennifer Hudson, the CEO of the Political Studies Association and a BBC political editor.

“We are both really happy to have won, just getting to the finals was really great news and to go around the Houses of Parliament was a fantastic opportunity.”

He added: “We didn’t expect to win, we were up against the winners from last year and we were the only state school against four private schools.

The pair will be travelling back to London with their politics teacher Andy Blackwood on December 4 for the Association’s annual awards ceremony, which will be broadcast on BBC Parliament.

Rhys said: “I’m definitely excited to go back, it’s an amazing opportunity.

“Our video will be shown to the other guests at the dinner, and the whole event will be broadcast on the BBC Parliament channel – it’s going to be really great.”

He added: “Politics is something I’m definitely thinking of pursuing – I’ve applied to do it at university next year.

“I’ve had a couple of offers already and I’ve got an interview at Cambridge, which is amazing.”