Wiltshire | Archive | 2007 | December | 5
From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Wednesday 5th Dec 2007.
CHILDREN had the chance to ask a police officer questions as part of a peer-mentoring project.
PC Qahir Sheikh joined other adults in the hotseat being interviewed by pupils for the Swindon Ten Learning Network project.
Greendown Community and Oliver Tomkins School pupils interviewed a business manager, councillor and health worker at the Swindon Town study centre yesterday.
Youngsters were being trained to become mentors so they can listen to younger pupils who face bullying and other problems.
Community safety officer PC Sheikh said: "I feel it is important for children to have a one-to-one with a police officer so they see me as a human being.
"They are innocent - some are enthusiastic, shy, cheeky and high-spirited. They are great."
The children from the two schools had to interview each other first before turning their attentions to the adults.
They quizzed the adults about what they have achieved in life and what aspirations they still have to fulfil.
Ten Swindon schools take part in the project, which teaches pupils listening techniques and the difference between closed and open questions.
Lauren Harland, 12, from West Swindon, said she learned how to look beneath the surface.
"I learned how to deal with people who are different to me," said the Greendown Community School pupil. "We were told not to judge a book by its cover. People aren't always what you think they are."
Fellow pupil Nathalie Cannell, aged 12, said: "It is easy to interview children from Year 6. It was hard to ask the adults questions to begin with but it eventually sank in.
"The Oliver Tomkins pupils gave us a Christmas card."
Study centre manager Martin Turnbull said: "The project is also about raising the aspirations of the children.
"It helps them develop a rapport and have conversations.
"We have tried to get men and women from a range of careers to talk to the pupils."
The youngsters presented their findings at the end of the day.
Greendown assistant headteacher Sophie Heston said: "It is fantastic to see the primary and secondary schools working together.
"It is good for them to meet people in the community and think about what jobs they can do. And the team at STFC study centre are fantastic."
© Newsquest Media Group 2008