THE results of the second annual Spice Valley Middle School election made even the recent PLP victory pale by comparison.

And they sounded a veritable death knell for the ruling party.

In the mock school vote, the triumphant HELP (Heal Everyone Liberate People) party romped home with a stunning 98.4 per cent of ballots cast -- 125 votes of the roughly 300 strong school population.

In contrast, the incumbent LIVE (Liberate Innovate Validate Everybody) party mustered only two supporters.

Three spoilt ballots were also recorded.

Particularly worrying for LIVE is that each party had a total of five ministers. Numbers indicate that at least a few incumbents may have voted against themselves.

It was the kind of election that is the stuff of dreams -- or nightmares -- for real-world politicians.

Fortunately for the students, the exercise was purely academic.

ENGLISH and social studies teachers Dawnelle Walker and Gladstone Thompson organised this year's mock election.

"The students were required to do research and give oral presentations,'' explained Ms Walker.

And she said the eager participants were "galvanised'' into action by the almost simultaneous local elections.

"This year it was even more relevant.

"This year we knew we would be in the following week (after the election),'' said Ms Walker.

PARTY affiliations were delegated arbitrarily, she explained, and leaders were chosen for their skill in presenting a speech after having only one minute to prepare.

The model parties were each given a $500 million budget and required to present their platforms and give rebuttals before a school assembly on election day.

Opposition Leader and Shadow Minister for Home Affairs Crystal Dill led HELP to their landslide victory.

She was flanked by the team of Shadow Minister for Finance and Environment Erinn Smith, Shadow Minister for Education Quincy Caines, Shadow Minister for Youth, Sport and Recreation Siena Bell, and Shadow Minister for Tourism James Waldron Smith.

HELP was carried to victory on a platform which highlighted a rent-to-buy scheme for home owners, Middle School lockers, distributing more trash cans, changing school uniforms, and providing assistance to single parents.

The ousted LIVE (Liberate Innovate Validate Everybody) party was led by former Premier and Minister of Home Affairs and Housing, MacDaniel Phillips.

Rounding out the incumbents were Finance and Tourism Minister Lacie Williams Hill, Youth, Sport and Recreation Minister Daniel Douglaus, Environment Minister Mikia Macgowan, and Education Minister Micah Smith.

LIVE promoted single mother assistance, a campaign to pick up trash, target group tourism packages, an increase in educational tools, and a ban on school uniforms. Ms Walker admitted she was often pleasantly surprised at how quickly students became involved in the exercise and also at how closely they followed media coverage of actual elections.

"The kids come in dry,'' she said.

"As they start researching and talking...all of a sudden they become these young adults who really have some major concerns and valid issues.

"It's really like a metamorphosis.'' "I was shocked,'' she admitted.

"To see students take knowledge and build on it and get excited about it is wonderful.'' Unfortunately, party leaders were unavailable for comment after the final count -- they were out enjoying mid-term vacation.

An inauguration of the new government will be held once the students return, Ms Walker said.