PUPILS at a Ribble Valley school tried to sample the delights and difficulties of living in a multi-cultural community during an equal opportunities day.

Year nine, 14-year-olds who will shortly be choosing their options for GCSE courses, spent a day at St Augustine's School in Billington, taking part in workshops and discussions and listening to speakers.

Mr Anthony McNamara, head teacher at St Augustine's, said: "Last year, our industry day centred on men working in what had been known as women's jobs and women working in traditionally men's jobs. "This time, we wanted the children to learn about differences in race and culture and the problems and advantages they may encounter once they leave school.

"One of the workshops involved the children imagining they had met an alien and the way they would go about communicating and meeting the alien's needs.

"We tried to make day fun, but the whole project obviously had a serious side."

The school will be taking part in a multi-cultural week at the end of this term when singers, dancers and speakers from all over the world will be visiting classes.

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