YOUNG campaigners at a Kingsteignton school are calling for action to protect rivers and beaches.

And, demonstrating that age is no barrier to campaigning, the Year 3 pupils at St Michael’s Primary School have written to the Chief Executive Officer of South West Water demanding their local river and nearby beaches are regularly tested and kept healthy for bathing.

The children were inspired by what they have learned in school to become passionate advocates for clean water and taking direct action to help protect the area’s rivers and beaches.

Their carefully constructed letters were sent to Keith Haslett, Chief Executive Officer of SWW who they also invited to visit the school help them understand why local waters become polluted, what challenges South West Water faces in improving water quality and what is being done to protect rivers and coastline.

A spokesperson for St Michael's Primary School said: ‘Our Year 3 pupils have shown remarkable curiosity, compassion and determination throughout this project.

‘They have made meaningful links between Religious Education, Geography and English while developing a strong sense of environmental responsibility and citizenship.

‘They understand that caring for creation means caring for people too, and they have used their learning to speak up for the future of their community.

‘We are incredibly proud of the thoughtful, respectful and persuasive way they have engaged with this important issue.’

The project began in Religious Education, where the children explored how both religious and non-religious people show respect and care for water.

Their learning also introduced them to Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which recognises every child's right to the highest attainable standard of health, including access to clean water and a healthy environment.

Inspired by this fundamental right, the pupils were determined to play their part in protecting the places where they live, learn and enjoy the outdoors.

In Geography, the children learned about rivers, the water cycle and the importance of clean waterways for people, wildlife and local communities.

They investigated the environmental challenges affecting Devon's rivers and coastal waters and discussed how polluted rivers and beaches can have far-reaching consequences.

The pupils recognised that clean beaches and safe bathing waters are essential to the success of the local tourism industry in Teignmouth and Dawlish.

They reflected on how many local families, including some of their own, rely on tourism and hospitality for their livelihoods.

In their carefully crafted letters, they demanded that their local river and nearby beaches are regularly tested and kept healthy for bathing.

As part of their English curriculum, the pupils applied their knowledge of persuasive writing by composing the formal letters using imperative verbs, ambitious vocabulary and powerful adjectives to present compelling arguments and encourage meaningful action from the company.

The project reflects St Michael's Primary School's commitment to empowering children to become active citizens who understand both their rights and their responsibilities.

By connecting classroom learning with real-world issues, the pupils demonstrated that young people can engage thoughtfully with important environmental challenges and inspire positive change in their community.