EXCLUDED pupils in Whetstone have pitched in to help build racial harmony during the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

Students and teachers at the Pavilion Study Centre, which is Barnet Council's pupil referral unit (PRU), in Chandos Avenue, have created a series of World Cup inspired projects that will we taken by a group of England fans to the Pavilion's partner school, in South Africa.

The initiative has been organised by the British Council and the England Fans Group in a bid to promote trust and understanding between fans and young people internationally during this summer's tournament.

The PRU, which is one of only five UK schools selected from the British Council international school linking programme to be involved, held an exhibition for the fans last week and showed off their displays of poems, buntings, mascots and other projects.

They also explained about their partnership with the Grahamstown Amasango Career School, which has been developed through the Global School Partnerships programme The England fans will also be bringing back materials created by pupils in Grahamstown after the tournament.

Head Teacher, Shelley Dannell said: “Our participation in this project is positive in promoting racial harmony, global understanding and increasing our students’ knowledge of other people and their lifestyles.

“Football is a universal language – through the World Cup our students are going to be having a very similar experience to young people in South Africa and other countries involved in the tournament, so it helps them to realise that we are all very alike after all.”

Organisers of the project said Schools across the UK are preparing materials including posters, songs, flags, dances and clothing along football-related themes, which “explore the diversity” of the different football teams involved in the World Cup.

They also hope to challenge stereotypes about English and South African culture and research the historic relationship between the two countries and their football fan cultures.