St Hugh of Lincoln CatholicPrimary School awarded Fairtrade School status

Great news arrived in July with notification that St Hugh of Lincoln Catholic Primary School’s application for Fairtrade School status has been successful. The school, in St John's, Woking, is planning more events and activities next year to keep the profile of Fairtrade high. Congratulations to all those on the Fairtrade School steering group and all those who supported them in achieving this recognition.
See www.sthugh-of-lincoln.surrey.sch.uk.
»Posted by Jennian | 12 August 2009

Pa Pa Paa

Pa Pa Paa, which works with Comic Relief and Divine Chocolate to provide educational resources about cocoa, has launched Pa Pa Paa LIVE!

For a small fee, it enables schools to bring Fairtrade to life in the classroom with online video broadcasts from a rural school in Ghana attended by Kuapa Kokoo farmers' children. Go to www.papapaalive.org for more details. If your school does not have a permanent link to a school overseas, then this is a perfect way to get kids engaged with life elsewhere and to put questions directly to children living in Africa. [See also the schools page on this website.]
»Posted by Becca | 27 April 2009

Schools competition winners

Two of the winners of the Schools competition for Powerpoint presentations are Connor (Connor's presentation) and Rory (Rory's presentation) . (May take half a minute to download).

»Posted by Billy | 25 February 2009

Woking High School

Fairtrade banner made by schools

We would love to have another chance to show it off our fantastic banner, made some time ago from entries to our competition by local schools. So if you have an event at which you could display it, contact Becca. Just bear in mind it is very large - 30m x 1.5m.

The message is the Fairtrade Fortnight slogan from that year: Change Today – Choose Fairtrade.

FAIRTRADE AND SCHOOLS
- some questions answered

Where does Fairtrade fit in the National Curriculum?

The concept of something 'being fair' is easily grasped by students of all ages. The issue of fair trade can appeal to their natural sense of justice, and provides an ideal vehicle for teaching the National Curriculum.
The Fairtrade Foundation (www.fairtrade.org.uk) provide a range of ideas and resources for using Fairtrade as a starting point in geography, PHSE, history, maths, English, religious studies and so on.

Trade simulation games offer an exciting way for students to learn about Fairtrade

In Woking, a number of members of the Woking Fairtrade Action Network are available to give talks about Fairtrade or take assemblies in local schools. In addition we have built up experience in running a range of trade simulation games which provide a lively and fun way for young people to understand the way trade works and, in particular, how richer countries often benefit disproportionately from trade practices. This have most frequently been used as part of Citizenship studies, although one teacher felt that they could equally be used in Maths as they require students to buy, sell and keep records of transactions with a view to making a living.
A variety of simulation games are available and are listed below. Each of these games can be used as a one-off event but they could be even more worth while as part of a series of lessons. As well as running the games we can point teachers in the direction of further materials for follow on lessons.

Schools - Fairtrade activities for schools and youth groups

Aside from making presentations and giving talks about Fairtrade, a number of trade simulation games are available as a fun way to help young people understand the way trade works and, in particular, how richer countries often benefit disproportionately from trade practices.
Members of the Woking Fairtrade Action Network have run numerous trade simulation games and have a range available for different purposes and age groups. number of

Becoming a Fairtrade School

If you want your school to become a Fairtrade school, there are a set of 5 Fairtrade goals which need to be met. Although derived from the Fairtrade Foundation original Five Goals for Fairtrade Towns, these have been developed and adapted to apply to school by People and Planet, a group campaigning among students on world poverty and environmental issues, in association with Oxfam. More information is available about how schools can support fair-trade on the web site www.peopleandplanet.org.

1. Approve official Fairtrade policy: The school creates a Fairtrade policy incorporating these 5 goals to be passed at either a school council or governors meeting.
2. Set up institutional steering group: The steering group will meet at least once a term to manage and monitor progress towards the five goals. In order for Fairtrade status to be awarded the steering group must send a full report to the Fairtrade Foundation / Woking Fairtrade Action Network, explaining how each goal has been achieved. In order for the status to be retained they must send a short progress report at the end of each academic year. The group should consist of catering staff, teaching staff, student body, and other relevant student groups.
3. Commit to selling Fairtrade in all outlets: Fairtrade foods are made available for sale in the school canteen, tuck shop and any other food outlets. Where this is not possible, there must be a commitment to begin to sell Fairtrade foods as soon as possible.
4. Commit to using Fairtrade at internal meetings and events: Fairtrade food (for example coffee and tea) are served at meetings and events hosted by the school and served in staff rooms, common rooms and at parents evenings.
5. Commit to campaigning for increased consumption of Fairtrade: There is a commitment for increased Fairtrade consumption at school and with parents and governors through the school newsletters or magazines. Staff are encouraged to discuss Fairtrade during lessons and to make links to local Fairtrade campaigners.