A GROUP of big-hearted Wirral sixth formers has raised almost £15,000 for the building of classrooms at a school in Nepal.

The 14 students, from Birkenhead School, had a chance to see how the money will change the lives of so many Nepalese children during a trip-of-a-lifetime to Lower Krishna Secondary School in Nepal during October half-term.

The cash was raised in conjunction with the charity, So the Child May Learn.

The group (pictured, below) trekked for nine days to Annapurna Base camp, an incredible 4130m above sea level, and then on to the village of Managau, where the school is based.Wirral Globe:

The students also found time to formally open a new classroom block that has already been completed with money raised for the charity by students at Shree Pokra Secondary School.

The school formalised the friendship between both schools by exchanging bonding gifts. 

Birkenhead School gave a wooden crest as well as its flag and the headmaster from Shree Pokra Secondary School presented the group with a framed photograph of their school and a Nepalese flag.

Wirral Globe:

Students from Birkenhead School during their lifetime trip to Nepal

Lower Sixth Form student, Hannah Durband said: "It was an incredible, life-changing experience.

"A highlight was when we woke up early to finish the trek to Annapurna Base Camp - seeing the sky go from pitch black to spotting the orange streaks of the sun appearing behind the mountains was breathtaking.

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"Visiting the School was an emotional time and I remember the moment the children placed the marigold chains over our heads in thanks, feeling the weight of them all around our necks, it was such an overwhelming experience."

David Edmunds, who organised the trip, said: "This is not a trip I would have dreamed of organising 10 years ago but, having been on around 30 overseas School trips in my career, it was by far the most challenging and also the most rewarding with every single student playing a significant part in that."

Wirral Globe:

Students and staff from Birkenhead School during their lifetime trip to Nepal

Headmaster Paul Vicars said: "Our 14 sixth formers should be incredibly proud of what they have achieved.

"Ending their trip visiting the site where the school is being built, thanks to all their hard work and fundraising, will be a memory that will stay with them forever.

"This life-changing experience is a perfect example of how we educate our pupils beyond the confines of the curriculum and help shape our students into confident, socially aware members of the community."

The trip is one of a number of high-profile trips that the School regularly undertakes, which have included a trip earlier in the year to NASA in Texas and a forthcoming co-educational Netball and Hockey tour to South Africa in Summer next year.