SIXTH formers at an Oxford school are hoping the humble chicken will help lift children in South Africa out of poverty.

The Chicken Project is an attempt to harness the skills of pupils at the Gcato School, in the Eastern Cape, in a way that will give them both practical experience and a healthy source of food.

Cherwell School assistant headteacher Julie Stuart-Thompson said: “The school is in quite a rural area, and once children get to the equivalent of Year Nine and 10, they either do agricultural studies or business studies as their options.

“There are no businesses for 20 miles, so we came up with this project that we would raise the set-up capital for them to start a business that would involve both options.”

Pupils at the Cherwell School, led by Charlie Bennett, Sam Brockie and Verity Stuart-Thompson, raised about £250 for the African school to spend on chickens and a shed to keep them in.

The idea is that the agricultural students will select the birds, tend them and feed them, while the business studies students sell the eggs they produce.

The three students visited South Africa earlier this year and spoke at the International iNet Conference, meeting the headteacher and deputy headteacher of the Gcato School.

The first chickens — probably eight to 10 birds — are set to arrive after Easter.

Verity, 18, from Freeland, near Witney, visited the school with her mother when the scheme was first set up.

She said: “We've got chickens at home and I thought it was such a simple idea that would work so well. It's really exciting that it’s actually about to start.

“Going to the school was the main thing that spurred me to get involved because of the first-hand experience of meeting the children.”

Charlie, 17, from Old Marston, has acted as project leader.

He said: “Rather than just giving money to a charity and them deciding what they are doing, we are controlling where the money is going and we are actually making a difference, which is fantastic.”

Sam, 17, also from Old Marston, added: “Just by giving a small amount of time you can see how much of a difference you can make to other people.”

To find out more, or to donate, email chickenproject@cherwell.oxon.sch.uk