Pupils take charge at city school

Police were called to the school after fighting in 2005

A group of pupils who acted as "peacekeepers" to calm racial tensions at a Leeds school have been asked to run lessons for a day.

The 72 students are taking over at South Leeds High School in Belle Isle - scene of a major disturbance in 2005.

They took part in a project run by a peace charity and have been praised for "improving levels of harmony".

On Tuesday, they were leading workshops to raise awareness of cultural, religious and ethnic differences.

The project was run by the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation For Peace - a charity set up by Colin and Wendy Parry after the death of their 12-year-old son Tim and three-year-old Johnathan Ball when the IRA bombed Warrington in 1993.

There are some fantastic friendships blossoming and that gives us hope...for the future Colin Bell, head teacher

The charity was asked last year by Leeds City Council to work with South Leeds High, which was formed in 2004 by a merger of two schools - one largely white, the other with a significant number of ethnic minority pupils.

In September 2005, a teenager was arrested after police were called to break up fighting which had spread throughout the school grounds.

Head teacher Colin Bell said: "We were always going to be faced with difficulties in amalgamating two very different schools with different ethnicities.

"What people also tend to forget is how fiercely loyal children are to their schools.

"In September 2005 we had some difficult moments, but what we have now seen beginning to emerge is that they are far more co-operative and collaborative with each other.

"There are some fantastic friendships blossoming and that gives us hope not only for the future of the school but also the wider community."

'Difficult transition'

Mr Bell said handing over the reins to the children for the day had been a big step.

"But we need them to be part of the solution, so giving them a sense of ownership is what this is all about.

Kelly Simcock, the programme leader at the foundation, said: "The aim of this project was to reduce conflict and racial abuse and provide pupils with the skills to help the school through a difficult transition period.

"The programme challenged their views and allowed them to have frank and open debates on issues like faith, culture, conflict and race.

"There have been considerable improvements in the levels of community cohesions and harmony in the school since the project started.

"This is the first event of many smaller events they will carry out to educate their peers back at school."