A Stockport Year 2 class, learning about Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford, have been inspired by the recently honoured MBE striker while learning all about humanity in their curriculum.
The six and seven year-olds of Bredbury Green Primary School (part of the Education Learning Trust) have been learning about the heroic actions of Rashford and his fight for free school meals.
The children were so proud of their Manchester hero, as well as other notable figures in history such as Rosa Parks, they wanted to create something to congratulate him for achieving his MBE.
The children, who have been learning about the concept of humanity and Black History Month, have labelled him their “Black History Month hero” and have now put together a list of questions for Marcus Rashford that they would ask him if they met him. Examples of these are: why he is helping children and how can he help more people.
Miss Victoria Lewis, Year 2 teacher and Key Stage One Phase Lead at Bredbury Green Primary School, said: “I’m so proud of the children. They have put their heart and soul into their learning. They have been so engaged when learning about Black History Month, humanity and the fight for free school meals by Marcus Rashford.”
Rashford forced the government into a U-turn over providing food vouchers for some of England’s poorest families during the Summer holidays after he launched a campaign to fight the decision to stop them being provided. This was incredibly inspiring for the Year 2 children, who consequently formed their own campaign for a better Bredbury and did some litter picking in their community.
Now Rashford is pledging to continue his campaign to see free school meals given to children during all school holidays in England, after the government rejected the idea.
The Manchester United and England forward says his call - part of an effort to end child food poverty - is "not going to go away anytime soon" and has set up a petition, which has garnered more than a quarter of a million signatures, urging the government to go further in tackling child hunger.
Miss Victoria Lewis continues: “Marcus Rashford is fast becoming a hero to children and families around the UK, but not just for footballing reasons. The children at Bredbury Green Primary School and the teachers, including myself, are fully behind his continued fight to end child food poverty in the UK and we hope that he is once again successful in his fight."