Tackling anti-social behaviour is big performance for pupils

DOZENS of primary school pupils took to the stage this week to have their say on anti-social behaviour.

The students from eight schools, including Hester's Way Primary, Oakwood and Rowanfield, performed to a packed crowd of parents and friends at All Saints Academy on Monday.

THE OSCAR GOES TO... Rowanfield Junior School pupils, front, Holly Bowman, 10, and Amy Hayward, nine, with, back, Thomas Jelfs, 10, Alex Greenway, 10, Colby Kelly, 10, Filip Gorajek, Sophie Gould and Eleanor Hewer-Oram, all nine
the law: Ceri Mavin, 10, Connor Morrison, nine, and Amelia Beaver, 10, from Hester's Way Primary School
message: Bethany Brown, 11, Shannon N'Jenga, 10, Abbie Beale, nine, and Tiffany Ashfield, nine, of Oakwood Primary School
Hester's Way Primary School
valuable lesson: Leah Davies, Abbie Beale, Tiffany Ashfield, all nine, Bethany Brown, 11, Shannon N'Jenga, 10, Dannielle Whittaker, 11, Poppie-Mae McSorley, 10, and Leanne Finch, 10
Gloucester Road Primary School

They had all created short plays about anti-social behaviour.

The project was led by the Everyman Theatre and the north Cheltenham policing team, with funding from Cheltenham Borough Council.

Its aim was to enable the Year 5 and 6 pupils, aged 9 to 11, to explore issues to do with petty crime in a creative way.

Exciting

And the young stars were all awarded mini Oscar's after their performances for their efforts.

Everyman spokesperson, Caro Day said: "It was a brilliant project. Everyman practitioners worked with the young people over 10 weeks and the police were involved in the whole process.

"It was a really exciting event and fantastic to see so many parents come along to support their children. They had great fun and learnt valuable lessons, exploring anti-social behaviour in a creative way."

The event also gave the pupils an opportunity to work alongside pupils from All Saint's Academy, where many will move up to in the next year.

Headteacher of Hester's Way Primary School, Graeme Davidson, said: "Our students gave drama club teacher Lesley Dodwell their input and they devised a play about a group of children bullying two pupils."