Students at a Harrow school staged a mock EU referendum which yielded surprising results.

Earlier on Thursday, while people were still heading to the polling stations to register their vote, boys at the John Lyon School on Middle Road were tasked with encouraging their peers to vote to either Leave or Remain.

Each group was persuasive, making posters, writing articles in the school papers and employing social media campaigns to argue their case.

A polling station was set up within the school and the votes were counted by sixth form students.

After a nervous wait, the Remain camp was announced as the winner with 63 per cent of the vote from a turnout of 58.5 per cent.

Katherine Haynes, head of John Lyon School, said: “This has been a fantastic and fun exercise. We’ve seen a spirited and impressive debate from our sixth formers supported by detailed arguments from their teams.”

Head of sixth form James Armstrong added: “We have a strong history of political debate and enquiry here at the John Lyon School.

“Every year we prepare and send boys to some of the best universities to study government and politics, both national and international.

“This day has shown just how robust and resourceful John Lyons sixth formers area.”