West Yorkshire Voices is focusing on Turnshaws School in Kirkburton which is in the same school 'pyramid' as Shelley High. As part of Voices BBC Radio Leeds will bring together students from both schools to forge greater links.

It is likely that many pupils at Shelley have no concept or understanding of how severe and profound learning difficulties affects people's lives. By working with the children in both schools and also with people from the surrounding community Voices aims to widen the understanding of such issues.

Children from Class 3 at Turnshaws School and musicians from Shelley High School have got together to produce a song about Voices. Click below to hear it. Turnshaws Song (28k)

Shelley High School opened in 1974 as a purpose-built all-ability school. Since then the school has acquired an excellent reputation within Kirklees and at national level the school's expertise in drama was confirmed when it won the British Schools Drama competition. Currently Shelley has 1350 pupils on roll, including those attending its Sixth Form Centre.

Already musicians from the school have worked with children at Turnshaws to produce a special Turnshaws song which will be played on Radio Leeds many times in the coming week

The BBC Bradford and West Yorkshire website is working specifically with the school's Cyber Cafe and will host pages created by its membres. Despite being busy with exams these Year 11 pupils will be reporting on Voices for us as well as writing about their own situation.

The school is just a mile away from the giant Emley TV mast

They also say they would like to tell us more about the surrounding area and this is not surprising. Shelley is an old West Riding village, surrounded by beautiful countryside, on the eastern edge of Kirklees and dominated by the Emley Moor TV mast which is just a mile away. In the past it made 'stays' for the corsets of ladies across the British Empire.

The staff at Shelley High School also welcome the project. Deputy Head Julie Williamson says: "We are looking forward to this exciting opportunity."