The event was organised by public services union Unison and the school, and was made possible as a result of the creation of the Ryedale Sixth Form Partnership.

Mr Balls welcomed this initiative as a positive proposal that would give working examples of "politics in action" in everyday situations which he felt would help students gain more from their academic studies.

Four schools, Lady Lumley's, Malton, Norton and Ryedale, have combined to broaden the curriculum available to students of each individual school. The new Government and Politics A Level course is available to students across Ryedale that would have previously been unviable for any individual school to offer.

Malton School headteacher Rob Williams said: "We are very pleased with this partnership, the school welcomes the practical dimension that the union Unison can contribute to the course and, in particular, their links with the City of New York University will add value to that part of the course which studies the American political system."