Thanks to funding from the Oakland Foundation, pupils at Woodfield Academy and Birchensale Middle School during the autumn term took part in a powerful virtual reality project designed to highlight the real-life consequences of knife crime.
The award winning programme, Virtual Decisions: Knives by Birmingham-based Round Midnight Ltd, immersed pupils in realistic social situations where they had to make split second choices around peer pressure, loyalty and safety.
Emma James, Headteacher at Birchensale Middle School said the programme strengthened the schools’ wider work on safeguarding and personal development. “We want our pupils to grow into confident, thoughtful young people who make the right choices for themselves and others,” she said. “This project really made them think about peer pressure, loyalty and how to stay safe.”
Mr Straw, Headteacher at Woodfield Academy, concluded: “When schools and community partners work together, we can make a real difference to young people’s lives. This project shows what can be achieved when everyone pulls in the same direction.”
Stephen Kearns, Associate Headteacher for Bordesley Multi Academy Trust, said the experience was “eye-opening” for staff and pupils alike. “The virtual reality technology brought the issue to life in a way that a normal lesson simply couldn’t,” he said. “Our pupils were completely engaged. It helped them understand that one split-second decision can have lifelong consequences.”
Follow-up workshops allowed pupils to reflect on their decisions and discuss how to stay safe.
Mr Kearns added: “We’re extremely grateful to the Oakland Foundation for making this possible. Their support meant every Year 8 pupil could take part and benefit from such an impactful learning experience.”
