Lawn Manor Academy undertake project to celebrate cultural heritage

By Jessica Durston - 21 July 2022

EducationSecondary
  • Lawn Manor Academy students (L - R) Mahnoor, Ayesha (Head Girl), Frances, Deepika, Sujata, Michelle, Binta, Chrisel

    Lawn Manor Academy students (L - R) Mahnoor, Ayesha (Head Girl), Frances, Deepika, Sujata, Michelle, Binta, Chrisel

Pupils at Lawn Manor Academy have taken part in a unique project to celebrate Swindon’s rich cultural diversity.

  • Lawn Manor Academy students Deepika (left) and Binta

    Lawn Manor Academy students Deepika (left) and Binta

The project, called See Me Nationwide, was held at Swindon’s Create Studios and was run by Nationwide and Schools of Sanctuary.

Staff said through a series of stories by people who had either lived in the town all their lives or who migrated to Swindon, the students were introduced to Swindon’s very diverse heritage. 

The pupils then worked with Create Studios’ media team to capture a series of interviews, and learned how to operate camera and sound equipment.

The Lawn Manor Academy team says it reflects its community’s diverse cultures. A total of 35 different languages are spoken by students and staff, including Konkani (a Goan language), Polish, Hindi, Italian, Spanish and Catalan.

William Smith, head of PHSE at Lawn Manor Academy, which is part of the Royal Wootton Bassett Academy Trust, said that the experience has been very valuable to the pupils.

He said: “This was an excellent trip supporting their classwork in Humanities and Citizenship, learning about community, cultural diversity and belonging.

“It also boosted their confidence in speaking in public, and listening closely to other people’s personal experiences and points of view.”

The entire school was said to have also taken part in a cultural diversity day, to celebrate the many cultures and backgrounds that make up the Lawn Manor Academy family. 

Activities included global knowledge quizzes, mehndi pattern designing and the learning of different European languages.

A group of year 10 and year 11 pupils also cooked and brought in food from cultures all around the globe, including Eastern Europe, South Asia, East Asia and South-East Asia.

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