Students pay for visit from inspirational headteacher

Trainee teachers were so inspired by their experiences working in schools in South African townships that they raised nearly £2,000 so an inspirational headteacher could visit the UK for the first time.

The five Early Years and Primary Years students from Sheffield Hallam University were so impressed by the experience they gained alongside headteacher Themba Hopa at Mboniselo Primary School in Motherwell, near Port Elizabeth, that they raised funds for him to come to Sheffield.

Mr Hopa has spent two weeks visiting Sheffield Hallam and a range of schools across the region learning about education practices so he can apply his knowledge to his own school, located in one of the poorest parts of South Africa.

Becki Rogers, from Doncaster, who is in the final year of her degree, led the fundraising efforts.

She said: "We were so inspired by our stay in South Africa. The children there had such smiles on their faces despite going to school and living in poor conditions.

"And the headteacher Mr Hopa was an inspiration to us - giving the children such guidance in their Early Years development."

Becki and fellow students Seda Jackson-Smith, Laura Stanton, Stef Durnford and Yasmine Wilkinson, raised £300 each for Mr Hopa's trip and added it to money already raised by students.

He said: "I'll never forget the experience of coming to this University and to other schools across the region. It has been of great value to education in South Africa. I've been inspired by the way the students raised funds to support my trip."

Another group of Early Years students from the University will be leaving for Port Elizabeth over Easter. They will spend five weeks working in schools across the region.

For press information contact:Laurie Harvey on 0114 225 2621 or email pressoffice@shu.ac.uk