BANANAS and cocoa beans are helping Ingrow school children learn about the Fair Trade movement.

The efforts by pupils of St Joseph’s Primary School in Ingrow earned their school a FairAware certificate.

FairAware is the first of three levels of the Fairtrade Schools Awards scheme, gained for introducing pupils to the idea of Fairtrade.

This enables growers in developing countries to get a fair deal when they sell their goods to the rest of the world.

School spokesman Yvonne Foley said the school’s Eco-Team was working towards gaining Fairtrade status.

She said: “They have already led an assembly exploring the journey of a banana from Columbia to Keighley.

“They have conducted a pupil and staff audit and encouraged staff to buy Fair Trade products.”

The school also had a visit from Leeds Education Centre, an educational charity which raises awareness of global sustainable development issues.

Centre staff explained to Year One children about the life of a cocoa bean farmer in Ghana.

More fun activities and workshops are planned as a St Joseph’s moves towards the second level, FairActive.

District councillor Adrian Farley, who represents Keighley West ward, described the school’s FairAware achievement as “brilliant”.