THE war in Iraq has provoked debate among Vale school pupils about the rights and wrongs of the conflict and humanitarian issues arising from it.

Evesham High School students have looked at a range of related aspects, such as asylum, human rights and media coverage.

At Pershore High School, more than 100 pupils staged a lunchtime anti-war protest to demonstrate the depth of their feelings.

Pershore High's deputy head teacher, Natalie Waters, said: "On the day there were the organised walkouts a week ago, we had some students who wanted to have a demonstration against the war. They wanted to do it in lesson time but we persuaded them to do it at lunchtime.

"Quite a few of them, probably 100 to 150, sat peacefully on the school field, in a circle. They sat quietly. We let them write 'no war' on the field.

"We had a debate between representatives of the students who were pro-war and those who were anti-war."

She added: "I've certainly been impressed by how much interest they're taking in it because it's sometimes difficult to interest them in current affairs."

Year 12 pupils at Evesham High have discussed broad issues including migration, asylum and ethnic minorities, prompted by the action in the Gulf.

Media coverage of the war and the language used in newspapers to report it have also formed a basis for debate, while the effect of the war on children in the UK has been the theme of a display mounted in a common room.

Last Saturday, Evesham group of Friends, otherwise known as Quakers, staged an hour-long silent vigil in the town's Market Square.

The group's Jill Griggs said: "I think the important thing was that we were there and it made people think about what was going on."

She added that similar vigils would continue to be held each Friday evening at the Friends' meeting House, in Cowl Street, for the duration of the war.