Pupils backing our brave troops

Failsworth School showing off their poppy tributes

THOUGHTFUL pupils at Failsworth School have given injured soldiers a morale boost.

Last December the school undertook a project to support soldiers serving in Afghanistan with pupils in Year 9 and 10 designing Christmas cards for the 3rd Battalion the Parachute Regiment.

The cards were sent to troops as well as their families in the UK and were well received, prompting the commanding officer of 3 Para to write to the pupils thanking them for their efforts, while the project also helped the pupils to pass their BTEC diploma in art and design.

Success

Following on from the success, the art department has been busy again, this time based around the theme of remembrance.

A Year 9 BTEC group were given the assignment to design a postcard that when completed would be sent to a rehabilitating serviceman or woman at Hedley Court in Surrey.

The class focused on the effect of war on individuals and spent a great deal of time researching, which included a visit to a local war memorial to gain inspiration. The pupils have now successfully passed a unit of work towards their Btec certificate in art and design.

As well as sending the cards to injured soldiers, it is hoped that a number will be donated to the Royal British Legion, who in turn will be able to use them to raise money for the poppy appeal.

Trevor Warren, chairman of the Oldham branch of the Royal British Legion, came into school to collect the postcards and to speak to the students involved.

He was impressed by the amount of research carried out by the class during their assignment and commented on the pupil’s dedication and hard work.