The programme, run by United Learning in partnership with Persil’s ‘Dirt is Good’ project, challenges pupils from across the Group to develop and deliver their own social action project to benefit their school and the local or wider communities.

Since the launch of this year’s programme in November, pupils have been working together to devise and implement their individual school projects. Last week’s Celebration Days saw the excellent efforts of the young leaders honoured as they presented their projects to an audience of around 100 peers and teachers from across other participating schools in the Group.

Each team spoke with confidence and showed great enthusiasm for helping their local communities, and were awarded with certificates for their achievements.

One project, carried out by pupil leaders at Bank End Primary Academy, involved the creation of an outdoor reading area which pupils have been using to immerse themselves in their favourite books and stories.

Another standout project was delivered by pupils in the William Hulme’s Grammar School primary phase, whose sought to raise awareness of food poverty in Manchester. As part of their project, pupils led a collective effort to encourage food donations to the Manchester South Central Foodbank, with a total of 372 meals worth of food donated by the school community.

Multiple schools centered their projects around making a positive contribution to their school’s outdoor environment. At Longshaw Primary Academy, pupils made bird feeders out of recycled materials for placement around the school, while Corngreaves Academy’s ‘EnviroHeroes’ project set out to build an environmentally friendly outdoor space.

As part of last week’s Celebration Days, pupils also got the opportunity to learn more about university life and what it means to be a student at the University of Oxford. Pupils enjoyed visiting the city and went on a special tour of the College followed by a taster lecture from Dr Jackie Watson on Greek mythology.

Speaking about the day, one pupil from Salisbury Manor Primary School said:

“We enjoyed the Celebration Day as we got to experience university life and see other schools’ projects.”

Another pupil leader at Silverdale Primary Academy said of the experience:

“While doing our project we improved our leadership skills, such as communication, and learnt how to work together best as a team. We have also learnt how we can take part in generosity to help others.”

Darran Ellison-Lee, Director of Primary Education at United Learning, said:

“Throughout this year’s Student Leadership Programme, it has been fantastic to see pupil leaders across all participating schools really focusing on how they can benefit their school and local communities and work together to have a real impact. Very well done to all pupils for their efforts and inspiring willingness to help others.

“Thank you also to St Anne’s College who hosted our Celebration Days once again this year. It is always such a memorable experience for those pupils who visit the College and see for themselves the many exciting opportunities available to them at university. It is by giving our children access to experiences like this that we can encourage them to aim high and strive to achieve their aspirations.”