Students discussed their opinions to help with a research project on public attitudes towards people with disfiguring conditions.

Jane Frances from Changing Faces visited Thomas Clarkson Academy to speak to two classes last week.

There are two aspects to Changing Faces’ work - supporting individuals and tackling the wider social issues regarding disfigurement.

The charity is working with the University of Essex on research about peoples’ attitudes to disfigurement.

During her second visit to TCA, Jane spoke to a class of Year 7 students. She showed them several videos of people with disfigurements talking about their lives and peoples’ attitudes towards them.

The students then filled out forms with their thoughts, which will be used to generate data as part of the research project.

They also discussed the matter as a class.

Student Frank Etherington said: “It made me think about how I would feel if I was in the situation where I had a disfigurement and someone was making fun of me. I think some people are horrible and would be nasty to people with disfigurements. Before watching the videos, I didn’t think people would be that cruel.”

For more information on Changing Faces click here.