A Hornchurch school celebrated Black History Month to its fullest.

Sanders Draper School, Suttons Lane, organised activities to highlight the month-long event, and their message was - “Be proud to be different.”

Assemblies were held which saw children modelling traditional clothing as well as other activities.

The celebrations also saw an African taster day, where the parents of pupils cooked and sold food, raising �90 for a sickle cell anemia charity.

Canteen staff at the school took part in the celebrations, holding a Jamaican-themed day that allowed students to “have a first-hand taste” of ethical food, said Head Girl, Tomi Akingbade.

Tomi, 15, said: “We want to ensure that every pupil’s heritage is celebrated.”

She added: “With a recent change in head teacher, we have managed to begin the change that will see difference being accepted. We wish for the community to be a part of this change also.”

Tomi said that students from the school have “been given the freedom to show their passion, embrace diversity and prove that everybody should be proud to be different.”