PUPILS and staff at Royton and Crompton School have made a difference to hundreds of children after creating 206 festive shoebox gifts for charity.

The school smashed their original target to create 100 shoeboxes for the charity's Operation Christmas Child appeal, which hands out shoeboxes filled with gifts for a child in need somewhere around the world.

Each year group were in competition with their forms to see who would bring the most shoeboxes and the winners were: 7FW, 8SPN, 9LCH, 10MMU and 11NBK, who will each get to choose a form reward.

Fauzia Ashraf, Teacher of Humanities, said "I have really enjoyed leading the shoebox appeal and I am so proud of our school and the difference we will make to the wider community.

"The pupils have really done a great job and at this just proves the great citizens they will go on to become. I would just like to say a massive thank you to all who donated towards the appeal and look forward to beating this target again next year!"

Headteacher Neil Hutchinson added:”The level of commitment from both staff and students supported by the wider community of parents and friends demonstrates the global spirit of the people of Oldham and in particular our school community.

"These gifts will be shared with children for whom these values are a dream. They often live in oppressive lawless regimes, where they are denied the fundamental liberties we take for granted."