An Ipswich primary school which has put together a world-first virtual reality guided video tour has unveiled the finished video.

Ipswich Star: St Pancras Catholic Primary School in Ipswich is today filming a video tour of the school, carried out by year six pupils with the help of BT. Picture is Shannon. Picture: GREGG BROWNSt Pancras Catholic Primary School in Ipswich is today filming a video tour of the school, carried out by year six pupils with the help of BT. Picture is Shannon. Picture: GREGG BROWN

Youngsters and staff at St Pancras Catholic Primary School in Stratford Road, Ipswich, were joined by BT volunteer Roland Craige equipped with a special 360-degree camera in November to film the shots for the tour.

Over the last few weeks the children have been editing the video – including selecting the clips, adding music, cropping clips and adding credits, and unveiled it on the school website last week.

Richard Williams, year six teacher who oversaw the project, said: “I wanted to give these children the opportunity to do something creative, something that would showcase our school, and give them the chance to get hands-on with the latest technology.

Ipswich Star: St Pancras Catholic Primary School student, Calvin Beaumont watching the schools virtual tour. Picture: GREGG BROWNSt Pancras Catholic Primary School student, Calvin Beaumont watching the schools virtual tour. Picture: GREGG BROWN

“The children have learnt so much by doing the project. They are learning how to be creative with some of the latest tech available, but they are also developing their team-work, independence and responsibility.

“They are the ones who have decided on all the shots and what they wanted to show-off about this amazing school.”

Before the video was uploaded onto the school website, the pupils were given a special ‘screening’, with a host of VR headsets having been brought in with the video uploaded for the pupils to experience the tour first hand.

Ipswich Star: St Pancras Catholic Primary School in Ipswich is today filming a video tour of the school, carried out by year six pupils with the help of BT. Picture is Shannon. Picture: GREGG BROWNSt Pancras Catholic Primary School in Ipswich is today filming a video tour of the school, carried out by year six pupils with the help of BT. Picture is Shannon. Picture: GREGG BROWN

While one private school has conducted a VR video tour, it is believed to be the first time a primary school has carried it out, and the first time involving guided explanations from staff and pupils.

The pupils opted for a ‘day in the life’ style film documenting all aspects of the school day from breakfast club to home time.

Madison, 10, said: “The experience of VR is really cool.

“We have learnt about the camera and it’s special lenses. We enjoyed scripting our shot and practising. It has been a great experience.”

Headteacher Steven Barker added: “It is great to see our children so inspired – and absorbed in something so cutting edge. We are championing several exciting initiatives at St Pancras but can now truly say that this is not just a school that tries to reach for the horizon, it is a school that tries to see right over it – in 360 degree virtual reality.”

Visit the school website here to see the video.

Ipswich Star: St Pancras Catholic Primary School in Ipswich is today filming a video tour of the school, carried out by year six pupils with the help of BT. Picture is Shannon. Picture: GREGG BROWNSt Pancras Catholic Primary School in Ipswich is today filming a video tour of the school, carried out by year six pupils with the help of BT. Picture is Shannon. Picture: GREGG BROWN