Schoolchildren have been learning about a 'very important topic'.

The Quinta Primary School recently welcomed a team of Congleton Town Council's White Ribbon Ambassadors - councillors Richard Walton and Kay Wesley, along with Jonathan Dakin and Robert Hemsley.

They ran workshops with four classes, helping pupils in years five and six to understand what is meant by gender stereotypes and practising ways to challenge them.

Assistant headteacher Sophia Stones said: "We were so pleased to welcome the White Ribbon team into school to work with our year fives and sixes around this very important topic.

"At The Quinta, we are passionate about ensuring that we are always challenging ourselves to be the most inclusive we can be in all areas of school life and our wider community. 

"We were very proud of how engaged and enthusiastic our children were in the excellent workshops that were delivered."

Councillor Wesley asks Year 6 what they know about gender stereotypes (Credit: CTC)

The government recently published a national policy to tackle misogyny in schools as part of its goal to halve violence against women and girls within a decade.

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Several primary schools in Congleton have asked the White Ribbon team to visit and support this work.

The workshop explores the impact of harmful stereotypes in a fun way, helping young people to challenge unacceptable attitudes and behaviours, and promote equality and a safe environment for all.

The focus of the sessions is on what is 'fair' and 'not fair', and the team facilitated a quiz where the class shouted out whether certain things were unfair on girls, boys or 'everyone'. 

The groups then participated in a role-play conversation where one person made a sexist or stereotyping comment and the other responded with constructive challenge, writing down their answers for discussion with the wider class.

Councillor Walton, who chairs the White Ribbon Working Group of the Town Council, said: "These four classes were energetic in their participation of the workshop, and their teachers and teaching assistants joined in the discussion too.

"It is clear that young people are familiar with these issues, and many of them were happy to discuss it and practice challenging each other in a fun and supportive way.

"I was super impressed by the enthusiasm and ideas these youngsters came up with. They are a credit to their school. Thank you for having us."