At the beginning of October, the children in Year 8 were invited to take part in the Model United Nations (MUN) conference held at Bede’s Senior School. Over 150 students from various secondary schools took part and this was a wonderful opportunity for the pupils to engage in diplomacy, public speaking and international affairs. The day consisted of the children from Skippers representing Greece or Egypt, learning about its policies, challenges and role in the international community. Topics for debate included stopping arms sales to groups involved in proxy conflicts, phasing out of plastic and repatriating cultural and historical artefacts to their countries of origin – critical issues that mirror real-world discussions in the UN.
The conference fostered teamwork and negotiation skills. The children worked in committees where they had to cooperate with delegates from other countries to draft resolutions, negotiate compromises and vote on proposed solutions.
All children were praised for their professionalism and ability to engage with difficult topics in a thoughtful and mature way. Special mention should go to Mia, Emilio and Molly who were commended for representing their country in the Committee for the Environment and the Committee for Health.
Thank you to Bede’s for hosting and giving our pupils this valuable educational experience that extends beyond the classroom and encourages the children to think globally and learn how the UN works.
Tiffany Henry – Assistant Head, Academic.
