Mayor faces video grilling by pupils

The Mayor of Oldham is to face a unique video-link grilling by pupils from two schools.

Councillor Shoab Akhtar will answer a raft of searching questions including: why Breeze Hill Secondary School is to close in 2012 and why he supports Manchester United.

The novel three-way exchange has been organised by St Chad’s C of E primary school, Uppermill and pupils from Oldham’s Horton Mill school.

St Chad’s co-ordinator, and teacher Claire Dunkerley said: “Video conferencing has taken off at school. We are at the forefront of new technology and the exciting opportunities that have been introduced into all Oldham schools.”

Last week, she organised a link between the school, Cambridge University and four schools across the UK to develop strategies for mathematical games.

She said: “This is a really important development to improve pupils’ communications skills and challenge the new science in innovative ways.”

Monday’s video conference will link the Mayor at Oldham’s Civic centre to children in their own classrooms.

Claire explained: “The children will be asking the Mayor a series of questions important to them and the community. They want to find out all about him and the jobs he does as Mayor.

“Some questions focus on pot holes and broken grids and others on his background and personal likes and interests.”

Pupils from Year Five at St Chad’s have been teaching their counterparts at Horton Mill simple phrases in French, and Horton Mill have been teaching St Chad’s children some Urdu in the link established between the schools over the last year.

Among questions set by St Chad’s pupils for the Mayor are: what is the most embarrassing moment since you took office? and a plea for the council to mend holes in roads, and unblock drains and grids.

Questions from Horton Mill children include what changes would the Mayor like to make Oldham better, his views on vandalism in parks, recycling and a plea for more litter bins in Glodwick.

“It promises to be a very interesting and illuminating debate,” Claire added.