Year 8 Anti Slavery

Wednesday 27 April 2011

On Wednesday 6th April over two hundred Year 8 pupils at Cirencester Deer Park School became anti-slavery campaigners in a climax of cross curricular work in ICT, History, Religious Philosophy and Global Citizenship. Each class was given a different challenge; some became web and graphic designers, others became radio and TV broadcasters and others worked together to produce a memorial.

Each group was assigned an expert in the field; Graphic designers Phil Ellis and Lambros Lambrou imparted their invaluable knowledge in order that pupils could create a bill board campaign to abolish modern slavery. “We learnt about what it was like to be a graphic designer in the real world, working as a team and independently,” commented Macauley Messenger.

Helping the radio broadcasters were Paul Moss and Claire Penlin from Stroud Radio who came in with their recording equipment and helped pupils create professional quality podcasts about their anti-slavery campaign using the school’s Apple Mac computers. The pupils enjoyed the day tremendously, Lucy Stephenson commented, “We could apply our learning to great activities…I liked how we could work independently using all the special equipment.”

Science TV (based at Bristol University) supported our budding programme makers with their challenge to produce a documentary about child slavery in the cotton industry in Uzbekistan. Thomas Snowball said, “We got taught in a really independent way, learning to rely on each and having to pull our weight so we didn’t let others down.”

The final group were given a slightly different task; to produce a permanent memorial in remembrance of victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade. Local artists Russell Paige and Bridget Williams were able to impart their wisdom and skills to help pupils create a memorial wall of tiles that depict images to make people remember the atrocities faced by so many millions of people.

The programme for the day encouraged learners to be interdependent, resilient, imaginative and reflective in order that they distil their knowledge and skills from previous lessons to create their campaigns and memorials. Helena Dovey (History AST) who co-ordinated the day said, “I was so impressed with the quality of the work that was being produced. The sense of achievement that many gained from being able to work on a project for a whole day with so many experts was very rewarding.” In addition, Matt Thurling from Science TV said “The team all thoroughly enjoyed working with the students.”

To support all the pupils throughout the day, Michaela Alfred-Kamara from Anti-Slavery International came in to be the ‘on call’ expert. Pupils were able to interview her for the podcasts and documentaries a well as ask her questions to help them formulate their expertise for their website. Michaela said, “I’m speechless! The effort that has been made to make this day so interesting and creative is just amazing. The pupils have been interviewing me and asking some really insightful questions and the work they are producing is so innovative.” Many members of staff, as well as the visitors, commented on the energy around the school; it demonstrated how many creative practitioners there are at the school. Chiquita Henson, Headteacher said. “When we all think creatively, we can really achieve some outstanding outcomes. Our pupils’ reflections during the day were thoughtful and perceptive.”

Anti-Slavery International are keen to continue the partnership with the school as a UNESCO Associated establishment and would like the achievements of the pupils to form a body of work on their own website.

Related Links:

• Anti Slavery International
• UNESCO Associated Schools