PRIMARY school children from across York will be discussing major issues affecting them at a conference taking place in the city.

More than 200 children who sit on school councils throughout York will meet and talk about common issues, from problems with transport to health and safety in schools.

Patrick Scott, director of education at City of York Council, will also attend the event and listen to what the youngsters have to say.

The event, taking place at the Guildhall on March 3, has been organised by Dunnington Primary School's council, and supported by the Institute of Citizenship and York Children's Fund.

Members of the Dunnington school council have planned all aspects of the day, from transport to the food.

Lucy Ainslie, 11, who is chair of the school council, said: "We have been talking to lots of different people about how we are going to organise it.

"We have also sent letters out to all the different schools taking part.

"We are hoping to find out how different school councils work and make friends with other members of school councils."

Vice-chair Maria Mazza, aged 11, said: "It will be quite interesting to see what they have done, we have all been doing the walk to school project and it will be good to see what kind of results other schools have."

The format of the day will be a series of workshops which will include talks, drama pieces and presentations on health and safety in schools, inclusion, school travel plans and fair trade.

Roger Highton, head teacher of Dunnington Primary School, said: "From seeing how the school council has worked so far it has given them the idea that they have a voice and they can make a difference.

"We do a lot of work on citizenship in school and the important thing is to make a difference and take an active role."

Bernie Flanagan, from the Institute of Citizenship, said: "The aim is to bring young people together and share ideas about how schools can operate and pass the message back to the powers that be."

Updated: 09:13 Wednesday, February 04, 2004