St Luke’s Church of England Primary School in Sway wins Gold Award in Christian Aid’s Global Neighbours scheme

PUPILS at a Sway school won a top prize for work highlighting poverty across the world and efforts to create a greener planet.

The Bishop of Southampton, the Rt Rev Debbie Sellin, presented the award in a special assembly at St Luke’s Church of England Primary School.

Youngsters achieved Gold Award status in Christian Aid’s Global Neighbours scheme, four years after becoming the second school in the country – and first in Hampshire – to get the honour.

The assembly was also attended by Jane Kelly, diocesan lead for RE and children’s spirituality.

Thrilled by the second Gold Award, deputy head teacher and global education lead Mark Gannaway said: “Our team of school council Global Neighbours representatives has worked hard to investigate causes we want to support and issues of justice that need challenging.

“They encourage all of us to make pledges that bit by bit will help make for a fairer world.”

Year 5 and 6 pupils wrote to politicians and county councillors, expressing concern over palm oil production and deforestation. They even received a reply from 10 Downing Street.

Youngsters have also exchanged letters with a school in Rwanda to find out how life is lived in another part of the world.

“We took part in Christian Aid’s scheme because it gives us a practical way of living out our school’s Christian values of love, hope and thankfulness,” Mr Gannaway continued.

“Our world is increasingly connected and our hope is for our children to grow as responsible global citizens who care about issues such as the environment and access to healthcare.”

The accreditation scheme celebrates schools helping pupils learn about global poverty and their responsibility to tackle it.

The youngsters have been working to take their place as global citizens, recycling and upcycling second-hand clothes and challenging food waste and the use of palm oil.

They have donated food for local people, learned about refugee families and raised money for orangutans in Borneo.