A FORMER Huddersfield woman pupil returned to her old school with a BBC radio crew in tow.

Mona Siddiqui was recording a BBC Radio 4 documentary which captured the return to her roots.

The university professor was born in Pakistan and moved to Huddersfield in the late 1960s.

The academic and regular Radio 4 contributor visited her former home near Greenhead Park.

She later met current pupils at Salendine Nook High School to discuss cultural and racial issues. Her meeting was recorded for the Radio 4 programme The House That I Grew Up In.

Deputy head teacher Peter Hirst said: “Mona came in an spoke to the pupils about how things have changed in the school and the way it looks.

“She also talked about community cohesion issues.

“She was particularly interested in hearing about how the young people perceive culture and racial issues, both in the school and in the community.

“We are a very integrated school and we discuss these issues.

“Our pupils spoke to her about the importance of not only respecting people of other cultures but also wanting to learn about them and understand them.”

Radio 4 presenter Wendy Robbins and a radio crew followed Prof Siddiqui’s every move and also recorded her talking to head boy Luigi Amitrano, head girl Rebecca Gledhill, school council member Yousuf Ahmed and her cousin, Sadaf Wadoodi.

Mr Hirst added: “It was fascinating to see how a radio documentary is produced.

“It was good for our pupils to ask her about her success and how she got into broadcasting.”

Prof Siddiqui is Glasgow University’s professor of Islamic studies and public understanding and the director of its Centre for the Study of Islam.

She is also a regular contributor to Thought for the Day and Sunday on Radio 4.