Youngsters from Dame Majorie Bean Hope Academy joined Warwick Academy students yesterday for a morning of fun and games.

Seven students from the Government school, which caters for 19 pupils with special needs, met up with their counterparts in the Warwick Academy gymnasium.

The trip was part of an ongoing partnership between the two schools that also sees Warwick’s Year 6 students visit the Hope Academy every week as well as arrange fundraising initiatives.

“This was the first time our pupils had visited Warwick Academy,” Julie Lynn, the Hope Academy’s social worker and volunteer co-ordinator, said.

“Obviously we are a separate school and don’t have as much chance to interact with peers and promote social and friendship skills and make new friends so this was a great opportunity.

“The whole trip was a great experience for our pupils that they enjoyed a great deal.

“Any experiences like these are great opportunities for the community as a whole to learn more about persons with special needs.”

Jill Finnigan, Warwick Academy’s director of staff and student development, added: “It has been an incredible experience for our students to learn and appreciate the challenges these young people face and teach them empathy and understanding.

We felt it was so important that we reciprocated and invited the students to come and see our school. We are very proud of and value the relationship that we have built with the school. It was extremely worthwhile for the Hope Academy pupils to come and visit our school, but also for our students to welcome them here.”

At yesterday’s event Ms Lynn was presented with a cheque for $1,000 that Warwick Academy’s primary school pupils had raised from a hot dog lunch.

“The money will go towards our school charity, Friends of the Hope Academy, which organises summer camps for our pupils and helps to provide equipment for the school,” said Ms Lynn.