FOR most children, school uniform is just a necessary evil.

But for three pupils from Oxford's Cheney School, it has taken them on a trip to India as part of a Channel 4 TV documentary.

Diko Blackings, Robin Benn and Martha Schofield - Year 10 pupils at the school in Cheney Lane, Headington - were selected from scores of youngsters nationwide to take part in Teen Traders.

The programme follows the group on an "ethical adventure" around India during which they were asked to design and find manufacturers for school shirts, which they will have to sell to classmates.

The trio, and Cheney teacher Pippa Whittaker, were taken to a number of factories, both huge commercial ones and small-scale Fairtrade ones, to see how shirts are made.

Diko, 15, said: "We got to see the whole process, from the cotton fields through to the factories, and it was devastating to see the effects the huge commercial factories have on their workers. This had a big impact on us when deciding how we would make our shirts."

Martha, 14, from Cowley, said: "We saw the massive differences there were between doing things the Fairtrade way and the commercial way.

"Many of the workers had become ill in the commercial factories from the pesticides used and they were working 12-hour days for tiny amounts - the equivalent of about 35p."

The two girls decided to have their shirts made by one of the small Fairtrade set-ups, while Robin convinced one of the larger commercial factories to produce some organically-made shirts for him.

Robin, 14, from Headington, said: "One of the bigger factories will be producing my shirts for me, which means they will be slightly cheaper than the girls'."

The trio will be selling their shirts to students at Cheney, and beyond, after half-term. They have not yet set their prices.

Diko, from Greater Leys, said: "I hope the documentary makes a difference and raises awareness.

"School uniform is something that everyone has to have, so I think it's easy to make that change and wear Fairtrade organic shirts.

"We went shopping the other day and, after seeing how workers in the commercial factories are treated, we would definitely only buy organic Fairtrade products now."

Mrs Whittaker, head of citizenship at Cheney, said: "The three of them did us proud and were great ambassadors for the school.

"We're hoping that this could be the first step towards all Cheney School uniforms being Fairtrade and organic. It really was an ethical adventure."