A team from Somersfield Academy got to try on the shoes of ambassadors at the Model United Nations conference this month in New York.

The 12 M4 students attended the Global Classroom International conference as representatives of the Netherlands to debate tough issues — including the abolition of the death penalty, the legality of drones as weapons of war, and the crisis greenhouse gas emissions.

The annual conference brings students around the world to learn about global issues, conflict resolution and the UN’s rules of procedure.

Attending from May 8 to 12 were Nicholas Bonanno, Tatum Brewer, Delia Cooper, Ian Forbes, Zoe Hasselkuss, Aisling Homan, Kieran Kimberley, Zaire Lodge, Ethan Madeiros, Gregg Mwangi, Thibaut Stefani and Grayson Toogood.

All took part in debates, in moderated and unmoderated caucuses, and in writing resolutions, which will be submitted to the actual United Nations committees.

Anne-Laure Bazin, a Somersfield teacher, said the M4 team were “among the youngest in this conference — but they have showed great preparedness and maturity”.