CASE STUDY: COWIE & ST MARGARETS
In November 2022 Nil by Mouth ran one of its most successful school projects to date when the charity teamed up with Cowie and St Margaret's Primary Schools in Stirling. With corporate support from CCG Construction to fund activities pupils explored difference, discrimination and sectarianism while celebrating their shared community.
P7 classes from both schools started their partnership by participating in a joint Nil by Mouth workshop as part of the charity’s ‘United Against Division’ programme. Pupils learned about and discussed the consequences of sectarian language and behaviour as well as exploring the negative impacts on those on the receiving end of such actions. They also explored themes around remembrance and conflict in the run up to Remembrance Sunday.
In December, both classes began working on the ‘Neeps and Tatties’ resource produced by the charity and written in Scots, allowing pupils to explore themes around acceptance, difference & discrimination. This work carried forward into 2023 when pupils again came together to learn about various art techniques and more about the creative process from ‘Neeps and Tatties’ illustrator, Anna York. This stage of the partnership culminated on Burns’ Night with a community haggis, neeps and tatties meal with local community and faith leaders attending to show their support.
In February 2023 pupils were visited by the Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association. This event saw representatives of major faiths and beliefs set up stalls with traditional dress, objects and activities to explain more about their particular faith. Pupils were invited to ask questions about beliefs different to their own, or new to them, which were answered by people from that faith.
To celebrate and reward pupils for their hard work, Nil by Mouth Education Officer, Jamie Lithgow, paid the schools a visit to present them with a ‘Champions for Change' award, which recognises schools who have excelled in work building bridges higher than walls and challenging sectarianism.
Leah from Cowie and Karie from St Mary’s receive their schools’ awards from Nil by Mouth Education Officer, Jamie Lithgow.
P7 classes from both schools worked together across the full school year including a look at Remembrance.
Anna York shows pupils in Cowie how to create their own prints.
Nil by Mouth Education Officer, Jamie Lithgow, said:
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‘Our Champions for Change Award was created specifically to celebrate the exceptional work carried out by staff and pupils from schools just like Cowie and St Margaret’s. As the only schools in Stirling to have received this award, they are a shining example within their local authority, and Scotland in general, of just how working together can benefit everyone. The friendships and bonds pupils have created will now be carried forward into high school, having set a fantastic example for next year’s group which I am already looking forward to working with.’