PUPILS from a Colindale school attended a youth summit last week to discuss poverty in developing countries, the recession and climate change.

The students, from St James’ Catholic School, in Great Strand, looked at ways to tackle health, education, water and sanitation issues, and fight the effect of the recession.

Richard King, teaches science and is head of the Global Schools Partnership (GSP) at St James’ School, supervised the students.

The GSP is a British Council initiative that provides grants to schools that are taking part in partnerships with schools in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.

He said: “The summit was excellent. The pupils met international development minister Mike Foster and they enjoyed it a lot.

"They got the chance to talk to other schools about major development issues.”

The summit, held at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, involved workshops on climate change and corruption in developing countries.

More than 100 pupils from Campion School, in Essex, Stepney Green College and Gladesmore Community School, in Tottenham, attended the summit.

Prior to the summit, the school organised a competition between all Year 7 pupils. They took part in research projects and were rewarded for a presentation on development issues.

Thirteen girls aged 11 to 12 were chosen to attend the summit, which was held last Thursday.

During the event, students were invited to comment on the Department for International Development (DFID) website and make personal promises to help the cause, such as shopping ethically or volunteering in their community.

After the summit, the girls who participated decided to organise some activities for their school to take place next year, including getting more recycling bags.

Mr King said an important aspect of the process was to raise the pupils’ awareness of the impact of their participation and how their views could influence Government.

“It made them aware of the links to the democratic process and also how to spread the message across the school," he said.

“As a Catholic school, it is in line with our policy – we have a moral obligation to try and help people across the world and it is very positive from an educational point of view.”