THE city’s older generation came face-to-face with the youth of today when they met them for tea at a Newport high school.

Sixth-form students at Duffryn High School held a tea party for OAPs in the community yesterday. (April 3)

The event held in the school hall was part of the students Welsh Baccalaureate project where they were asked to engage with the community.

Around 20 students and 20 elderly people from residential homes in Duffryn, Gaer and Maesglas, attended the tea party which saw the students talk with the older generation while they enjoyed freshly made scones and sandwiches made by the students themselves.

Sian Roach, the Welsh Baccalaureate co-coordinator at the school, was thrilled at the success of the event.

“As part of the course, students have to do a number of hours of community participation,” she said.

“It is very flexible as to what they do but lots of the students felt it would be nice to have the elderly come into the school.

“It is lovely to see the young people aged 16 to 17 sit down with the older people, and have a chat with them and to have a laugh with them.

“Around 20 elderly people of all ages ranging from early 60s to 80s came along to the school and the students had created an area at the back of the hall for the tea party which they decorated and laid out the food they had prepared.”

As part of the baccalaureate all students have to take part in different modules including community participation, team work and work experience with work ranging from presentations to coursework.

“It is a way of preparing them for university and the workplace,” Ms Roach added.

“It helps them to develop different skills and life-long learning.”