Lady of Muswell Catholic Primary School students discuss Britain’s treatment of refugees

Welcome, hope and tolerance have been the three key messages for students learning about refugees.

As part of Our Lady of Muswell Catholic Primary School’s welcome week, Refugee Council chief executive Maurice Wren spoke on a range of topics including people smuggling and Britain’s history of helping refugees.

Mr Wren, who also spoke to Year 6 pupils about the media’s portrayal of refugees, said: “It was a pleasure to speak to these incredibly well informed pupils.

“Their questions showed their knowledge of refugees and the issues facing them.”

Each child at the Pages Lane school has written a message of hope on a piece of paper that has been transformed into an origami boat. The boats will be delivered – by charity the Children’s Society – to refugee and migrant families across London who will be able to read the messages of welcome when the boats are unwrapped.

They have also written messages of hope to be placed on a Lampedusa cross, which is made from the driftwood of refugee boats crossing the Mediterranean.

Headteacher Angela McNicholas said: “Our children have really taken to heart the three key messages of welcome week – welcome, hope and tolerance. I am immensely proud of them.”