Education Reporter Haydn Lewis visited a York school to find out why pupils have chosen to keep quiet in class next week.

DRINGHOUSES Primary in York is one of many schools in the city and across the country taking a vow of silence next week.

Pupils are determined to keep it zipped next Friday, and help people who are living with cancer.

The event is in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support which is encouraging teachers and schoolchildren in York to take part in their 12th annual sponsored silence, The Big Hush, which is taking place to mark the end of Cancertalk Week.

Macmillan's Cancertalk Week aims to get young people, aged between seven and 16, talking and learning more about cancer. By getting involved in lessons and activities during the week, children can increase their awareness of the disease and help reduce the fear of it.

Money raised by children taking part in The Big Hush will go to Macmillan, which provides practical, medical, financial and emotional support to sufferers.

Dringhouses class teacher Sara Storey, who has helped organise the event, said it was particularly poignant for the children because one of their classmates, eight-year-old Conor Brockbank, has had leukemia and undergone chemotherapy.

Thankfully Conor was recently given the all-clear, and Mrs Storey decided to get the children involved in Hush only after consulting Conor's father.

She said: "The fact it is called the Big Hush is somewhat ironic really, as it provides schools with the opportunity to talk about the children's own experiences of knowing people who are living with cancer."

Key Stage 2 youngsters will all be attempting a 20-minute sponsored silence, with work being carried out on whiteboards. Years 1 and 2 will be holding a ten-minute silence.

Early years pupils will be sponsored to stay quiet for five minutes.

For more information on The Big Hush or to order a Cancertalk teaching pack, phone 0845 6011716, or email cancertalk@mktpoint.com.

Schools can also download a teaching pack from www.macmillan.org.uk/classaction


How Macmillan can help those living with cancer

MACMILLAN'S Roohi Lupton, community fundraiser for the Vale of York, said: "Taking part in The Big Hush couldn't be easier - or more fun.

"You can sign up the whole school or a single class, and organise the children to be sponsored for every minute they keep quiet, or pay a small amount to take part.

"With more than one million people currently living with cancer in the UK, many young people know someone affected by the disease - maybe a grandparent, a teacher or another pupil.

"The Big Hush is a great way to help Macmillan improve the lives of people living with cancer."

* Macmillan's Youthline offers cancer information and support to 12 to 21-year-olds who are affected by cancer, whether the caller is a patient, family member or friend.

It also provides help to adults wanting to help young people affected by cancer.

Phone 0808 808 0800, Monday to Friday, 9am to 10pm, email: youthline@macmillan.org.uk; or log on to www.macmillan.org.uk

* Macmillan Cancer Support improves the lives of people affected by cancer, providing practical, medical, emotional and financial support.

Working alongside people affected by cancer, Macmillan works to improve cancer care.

One in three people will get cancer, and 1.2 million of us are living with it.