Lots of schools got in touch in 2008 to tell us about their school events. You can find out what they got up to by clicking on the school names below.
We hope these stories inspire you. Don't forget to get in touch and let us know what you have been doing for the BIG READ campaign!
West Down School
60 children from West Down School took part in the World’s Biggest Lesson.
Some of the children commented on issues to do with education. For instance, Gavin learnt about children with special needs. He said “We can afford to support them in this country, like we have a BSL signer in school. What about those children affected by war or other needs – they can’t afford support”. Nikki said “School should be a safe place”.
At the end the children were given a “missing out” card. This was a silhouette of a child which the children had to customise artistically showing what they would have missed out on without an education. A card was also sent to the local MP, Mr Nick Harvey, and this will be added to the school display. These cards will then be sent to Gordon Brown before his visit to the G8 summit.
Their headteacher, Sandra Clement reported that,
"The whole session was a huge success. Our children sponsor a child who was a ‘rubbish dump kid’ existing only on food or shelter from a rubbish dump in Kenya. She is called Sidi. She is now safely in a boarding school. I think this made the lesson even more meaningful. Let’s hope the powers that be take notice of the views of our children and this helps go someway to them reaching their goal. Education is a necessity and every child has the right to learn".
Holy Family School
Holy Family School took part in the World’s Biggest Lesson on 23rd April.
The Year 3 class of children and teachers thoroughly enjoyed their interactive lesson - lots of talking with partners about their views and opinions on the topics being raised and what they think and appreciate about their own education. This was an excellent day and we are so pleased to hear we helped to break a world record - most exciting!!
The picture shows us working during the lesson.
Year 3 Class
Holy Family Primary School, Witham, Essex
St Mary’s Junior School, Long Stratton
All the pupils at St Mary’s Junior School in Long Stratton, Norfolk, were involved in the world record breaking lesson!
At 9am on Wednesday 23rd April 2008 we kicked off with a whole school assembly to launch the lesson. We watched a video about the Global Campaign For Education and discussed what we could do to help. All classes then took part in the lesson. There was a total of 224 pupils and lots of staff involved.
The lesson was about why school is so important and how across the world up to 72 million children are missing out on education.
Organized by the Global Campaign for Education (GCE), the lesson was a reminder to world leaders to keep their promise that every child in the world would complete a quality primary education by 2015.
The pupils completed a card to show what we would miss out on if we didn’t go to school. At the end of the day we held another assembly where we held up all our cards. These are now displayed in our school entrance hall before being sent to Gordon Brown before the G8 summit at the end of June.
Kendra Collier
Class Teacher
Evelyn Street Community Primary School
We had a great day on the 23rd of April. All the school got involved except year 6 who were practising for their SATs. We all taught the lesson given to us via your website at 9:00am and then came together at 10:00am for an assembly, which I led. The classes took it in turns to come forward and talk about what they had learned and show anything that they had done in class.
I also invited our local MP, who unfortunately couldn't make it because she was in parliament. However I did invite our local newspaper and a journalist came, took some notes and photographs of the children that are going to appear in the Warrington Guardian this week. The children really enjoyed learning about this and were really shocked by what they learned and read. Many of the children said that their biggest lesson they had learned was how to appreciate school a little more and the life that they have.
Thank you for supplying another great set of activities, this is the second year that I have taken part in something and I am really looking forward to the next main event. My next job is to now post all the 'missing out' cards to Gordon Brown.
Emma Perkins
Abbots Hall Primary School
Karen Staines, from Abbots Hall Primary School in Stanford-le-Hope, Essex organised for all 193 Key Stage 2 pupils to take part in the world record attempt for the World’s Biggest Lesson.
Here are some of the comments from the children:
Danni said "It was a fun lesson. I learnt that there are a lot of children that don’t have the chance to go to school."
Claire said "I thought it was sad learning about the poor learning conditions. I feel lucky to go to my school."
Danny said "I thought it would be fun not to go to school but now I realise that it is good to go to school and have a good education."
For homework all children were asked to use their artistic talents to customise their ‘Missing-Out’ cards to show their support. These cards will be used for display and then forwarded to Gordon Brown before he attends the G8 summit in Japan.
On the 16th May, Angela Smith, our local MP, who is supporting this campaign, is also coming into school to answer some questions set by the pupils. This lesson was a very positive experience for the children.
Sandfield Park School
We are members of the 6th form at Sandfield Park School Liverpool and our school took part in the World's Biggest Lesson.
Using the pack that was sent to us by Send My Friend we made a pack for each member of staff to use whilst taking the lesson.
During the lesson we watched the video and discussed the reasons why we were taking part in the lesson. The lesson was a big success and every student in our school took part and contributed in their own way.
We have attached some photographs to show how well the day went
Thank You
Michelle Michael Craig David Kathryn and Joanne
Hamilton College Junior School
We had great fun participating in the World’s Biggest Lesson on Wednesday 23rd April.
We decided to give the lesson to four of our P6 pupils (age 10 and 11) to deliver to their classmates. This proved to be a success with everyone. You can read their report
We invited our local MP, Jimmy Hood to come on the day, but unfortunately he didn't make it along. He did, however, send the response card later which will form part of our 'missing out' display.
Lockhart Geddes
Deputy Head of Hamilton College Junior School
Wrockwardine Wood Junior School
For the second year running our school has taken part in Send My Friend to School. This year we have again made posters and leaflets to let everyone know about the issue and have written to many famous politicians and celebrities to ask them to get involved too.
We all enjoyed taking part in the World's Biggest Lesson. Keep up the good work.
We all feel very strongly about the issue and will certainly be getting involved again next year !!
From,
Mrs Clarke and all the children at Wrockwardine Wood (C.E.) Junior School in Telford
Cornhill Primary School
Our School had great fun participating in the event and all classes from 4 years to 12 years old took part! One of our support staff was lucky enough to travel to Africa recently and helped create links for our school with several schools in Kenya, one of which we are hoping to become our sister school. This created an opportunity for us to raise awareness again about how lucky we are at our school and how much we can help children all over the world.
As an inner city school, some of our children face their own difficulties coming to school on a daily basis, but it was fantastic to see them participating so enthusiastically! We hope our small inclusion will help your bigger plan of education for all!
From all the staff and children at Cornhill Primary School
Gemma Mowat
Cornhill Primary School, Aberdeen
Banbridge High School
At Banbridge High School, County Down, 73 pupils took part in the World's Biggest Lesson on 23rd April at 9am. At 8.40am teacher Pearl Johnston and pupil Sharon-Louise Trimble were interviewed live on The BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme about the lesson. Local press also covered the event. Fourteen year old Sharon-Louise was one of two Banbridge High School students who accompanied Save the Children as reporters to last year's G8 Summit in Germany. They hoped that world leaders would keep their promise of primary education for all by 2015.
At the school the lesson marked the beginning of the 'Send My Friend 08' campaign. Year 8 pupils will complete 'Missing Out' cards to be sent to Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Our local MP William Simpson (Upper Bann) has accepted an invitation to visit the school and lend his support on 13th June. This will be the third year that Mr Simpson has supported the campaign for global education at Banbridge High School.
Pearl Johnston
Banbridge High School
King’s Meadow School
The photo shows Class 7A at King's Meadow School, Haddington, East Lothian busily working on a poster campaign to raise awareness of the 72 million children still without consistent formal education.
We took part in the World's Biggest Lesson and will be sending our MP, Anne Moffat, the sendmyfriend postcard to find out what her commitment to this issue is.
Thanks so much!
Russell Clegg
Class Teacher
Avening Primary School
Avening Primary School took part in the World’s Biggest Lesson on 23rd April.
Ireleth St Peter’s CE Primary School
This picture shows our year 3/4 class.
We really enjoyed taking part in the world's biggest lesson on 23rd April.
We have been learning about children's education in our PSHE lessons this term so were really pleased to be able to incorporate this into our learning.
Thanks,
F Doran and Class
The Avenue School
We are a special needs school in Reading for pupils aged 2 – 19 years. We took part in the World’s Biggest Lesson this morning, and being taught alongside the pupils was The Mayor of Reading Councillor Chris Maskell, and Rob Wilson MP for Reading East and Shadow Minister for Higher Education. Our sister special needs school “The Sunshine School” in Bequia, St Vincent and The Grenadines also took part.
