UNITING COMMUNITIES THROUGH INTERFAITH LINKING

Schools across Star have been engaging in school linking projects to promote interfaith knowledge, understanding and compassion.

These connections are an important part of the faith and character offer in Star’s faith schools where pupils can work and spend social time with peers from different faiths and backgrounds. Over the course of an academic year, schools and classes are partnered to learn more about each other’s lives and beliefs. This is an important stepping stone in creating harmony and addressing prejudice in communities.

Through the Faith and Belief Forum, a school linking initiative, Eden Boys’ School, Birmingham has partnered with nearby Bartley Green School to explore issues

To initiate the partnership, pupils from both schools wrote letters to each other to gain insights into their peers’ lives. A video call was then organised, allowing the pupils to virtually interact, ask questions and share common experiences. This online introduction set the stage for their first face-to-face meeting where pupils had deeper conversations to explore each other’s identity and their community, and wrote poetry on the theme of identity. The visitors from Bartley Green observed prayers, with the Star pupil ambassadors explaining the associated rituals.

Primary faith schools have also been developing relationships with their local community. The Olive School, Hackney visited Simon Mark’s Jewish School to experience their Sukkot exhibition, about one of the three major festivals in Judaism. After hearing about the importance of Sukkot from their peers at Simon Mark’s School, the two groups feasted on traditional Jewish food together, giving them a chance to discuss their similar hobbies, talents and interests.

The Olive School, Hackney reciprocated by inviting pupils from their partner school to attend their Seerah Super Spirituality Exhibition. The visitors were escorted around the event’s stalls, which featured Sunnah foods and information about the life of the Prophet (pbuh) and his love of animals, nature and family. The event concluded with a performance from the Star Voices choir, with pupils benefiting from discovering and celebrating the many experiences and interests they share with those from different backgrounds.