A group of teachers from a Mitcham secondary school are heading to Calais to help teach children in the notorious ‘Jungle’ refugee camp.

English teacher at St Mark’s Academy, Sam Foster, who organised the trip, said it was partly inspired by the multi-cultural environment of the school.

Mr Foster said: “There’s a lot of sympathy for what is going on in the camps. We have got children from Afghanistan and Iraq, and we expect that over the next few years children from the Calais Jungle will start coming to our school.

“I have been to Calais before, like the vast majority of middle class English people. But I have never been to a refugee camp before. I want to see for myself what the reality for these children is, and what the main challenges facing them are.”

Mr Foster added: “Some people have been doing some amazing work there, and there must be thousands of teachers who have gone over before us, but they are really up against it and we just felt we wanted to do something.”

St Mark’s Academy has been fundraising and collecting teaching resources that can be taken to Calais, including old pens and half used notebooks.

The four teachers from St Mark’s Academy, as well as a fifth teacher from Harris Academy Merton, will be helping children at the camps learn to speak English, as well as taking over resources for maths and Arabic lessons.

And, if all goes well, Mr Foster is hoping that it could become a regular fixture, with teachers from a range of subjects making the trip to Calais.

Mr Foster said: “It would be great if we could. It would be brilliant if we could make an impact on these kids for more than just one week.”

Principal of St Mark's Academy, Lisa Peterkin, said: "I am  delighted that our values of love, hope and trust live within our staff as they continue to go above and beyond.

"Staff have fundraised to provide equipment for the young people in Calais and I am sure all will be put to good use. What an amazing experience for all."

The teachers will be in Calais from Monday, August 15 until Monday, August, 22.

Anyone who would like to donate money to buy resources can visit Sam Foster's JustGiving page here. Alternatively, to donate resources contact Mr Foster on sfoster@stmarksacademy.org.uk.