CASE STUDY: ST JOHN BOSCO & BARGARRAN PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Since 2021 Nil by Mouth have been working with St. John Bosco and Bargarran Primary schools in Erskine. The joint initiative, based on a shared campus, aims to promote tolerance and respect and was initiated after covid restrictions began to ease with the aim of helping re-establish positive connections between the two schools and bring teachers and pupils together.

 

During the 2021 school term, pupils from the two schools participated separately in Nil by Mouth workshops. Thankfully the easing restrictions eventually allowed them to participate in a full day of activities together in 2022, with a focus on how young people can work together to create change whilst also pitting their basketball skills against teachers and Nil by Mouth staff to win more than 100 Easter eggs to share with one another.

 

The following term, P7 pupils from both schools took part in a ‘Delights’ workshop led by author Daniel Gray bringing pupils together to learn about difference but also celebrate all the things that make them similar. Pupils were also supported to create their own ‘delight’ focusing on a smell or sound which incites happy memories and were tasked with putting these down on paper in the form of a letter as a way of introducing themselves to someone in the other class.

 

The schools read ‘Neeps & Tatties’, Carey Morning’s beautiful Scot’s storybook, which explores themes around acceptance, difference & discrimination, pupils also learned about various art techniques from the book’s illustrator, Anna York when they came together to participate in a joint art workshop where they created prints celebrating their home town of Erskine.

 

Pupils then had the opportunity to participate in Nil by Mouth’s ‘Pause B4 U Post’ programme which helps children better understand the impact of online bullying and discrimination. The classes discussed their online habits and considered how things they post can be viewed by others. The workshop includes role-play, allowing children to consider the merits of different approaches to dealing with and challenging online abuse, including things that may be seen as racist, sectarian or discriminatory. The workshop aims to enable pupils to make the right judgements when it comes to their own online behaviour.

 

Their hard work and dedication was rewarded in March 2023 when players and coaches from St. Mirren Football Club paid the schools a visit for a joint coaching session. Over 300 pupils from both schools took part in a ‘School of Football’ day led by coaches from the club’s ‘Street Stuff’ programme providing an opportunity to practice their skills and play in matches with mixed teams and pupils from both schools.  As a special bonus St Mirren first team players Kieran Offord and Caolan Boyd-Munce answered questions from pupils about the lives and aspirations of a professional footballer followed by a special autograph session with the players signing t-shirts, football strips, balls and even school bags. The club also donated 16 tickets to each school. The lucky pupils who attended the match watched St Mirren defeat Livingston 3-0.

 

Nil by Mouth has brought football players, coaches, artists and authors along to work with pupils from both schools and along with delivering our own anti-sectarian workshops we know that these young people have an excellent understanding of the issue and a strong sense that the things they share are much more important than things others may try to use to divide them. We look forward to continuing our partnership with St John Bosco and Bargarran in the months ahead.

Nil by Mouth’s ‘United Against Division’ programme was delivered in such a way that the children were really engaged throughout. They enjoyed participating in a variety of different types of activities and benefited from being able to meet up with the P7 pupils from our partner denominational school to learn a variety of new art, writing and footballing skills.

The children were encouraged to think about stereotypes, attitudes and friendship and it is clear they have gained a deeper understanding of the need for tolerance and understanding of others’ views even if they are different to their own.

 

Involving other classes from both schools to take part in the St Mirren FC, Street Stuff event was an excellent way of introducing children in a fun and energetic manor. They loved having the opportunity to meet and question St Mirren first team players, Kieran Offord and Caolan Boyd-Munce, who happily answered questions from pupils about their lives and aspirations as professional footballers.

 

None of this would have been possible had Nil by Mouth not secured funding to be able to offer all workshops, artist visits and health & wellbeing activities at no cost to the school. We will definitely be looking to take part in the programme again next year with our new cohort of P7 pupils!

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Mr Grant, P7 Teacher, Bargarran Primary School, Renfrewshire.