Sixth-formers deliver lessons on difficult topics

The new approach allows sixth-formers to teach groups of Year 7 pupils every week

Sixth-form students at a school in Coventry are giving lessons to younger pupils as part of a programme to tackle difficult subjects.

The lessons at Bishop Ullathorne Catholic School aim to normalise conversations around topics such as bullying, gender stereotypes and unhealthy relationships.

Funded by a £70,000 grant from the region's Violence Reduction Partnership, the Change Maker Programme allows sixth-formers to teach groups of Year 7 pupils each week.

School head teacher Sarah Boyle said younger pupils could learn a "tremendous" amount from the scheme.

Ms Boyle said the sessions were also about teaching pupils how to be an "upstander" and to "not stand by and let things happen" but to instead tackle them in the right way.

She said she was "extremely proud" of the sixth-form students delivering the sessions.

"The school's not just about exam grades. That's really important but it's also important for them to be skilled in life, so these sessions that are being delivered are giving them skills to be able to tackle issues that they come across," she added.

The Change Maker Programme aims to normalise conversations around bullying and gender stereotypes

Sixth-former Belinda said she loved delivering the sessions and seeing the younger pupils engage with the topics.

"I think it's definitely helped them realise like a lot of internal issues that we have," she added.

Joseph, who has also been taking part, said the youth-led My Tomorrow campaign was "very important" because of the increase in violence around the West Midlands.

"They keep coming back with good feedback," he said of the pupils.

"It is really important because even when they contribute to their class they also open the horizons for other students who may not contribute as much as well."

Year 7 pupils Stella and Elizabeth said they were "really enjoying" the sessions and could link real-life scenarios to their daily lives.

"We need to be learning about stuff like this in school so we can actually put it in our daily lives and make use of it," Elizabeth added.