Judges commended Chorlton High School (CHS), in Manchester, for its tireless efforts to raise awareness of the plight of refugees.

Since 2016, the school has raised money on behalf of the refugee crisis, with one staff member, Miss Quinn, inspiring students and staff to make a difference after she volunteered in a refugee camp in Calais.

Every year, CHS runs a Choose Love show to raise funds for and awareness of the ongoing crisis. This year, despite lockdown, the school managed to create a set of performances that were aired at 6pm each night during its Choose Love Week, including the Lyrical Miracle competition, in which students were given the choice of three music tracks to write lyrics for.

The school also hosted Too Little Too Late?, a dramatic poem reflecting on the trials of the past year and the importance of working together as a community, written by head of drama Miss Prudhoe.

During Choose Love Week, all students were told an inspirational story in assembly each morning, exploring what life is like for refugees, as well as motivational accounts of people who have overcome trauma in order to build a successful life and help others.

The school has raised thousands of pounds and has filled a van with donations for Miss Quinn to take to Calais. Every Year 7 student makes a pledge to support refugees and to continue the valuable work carried out by their peers in older year groups. The performances on the school’s website are a testament to the way the arts are nurtured in the school and demonstrate how a desire to help others has been deeply embedded at the heart of the school’s culture.

Judge Mike Fairclough said: “Chorlton’s Choose Love creative projects are truly outstanding, inspiring and an example to all.”