Pupils' fun before the holiday

FUN and learning went hand in hand for pupils at a Suffolk school as the end of term approached

The normal timetable was abandoned at Trimley St Mary Primary School as headteacher Mike Jude and his colleagues treated the pupils to a special week leading up to the Easter break.

Mr Jude said: "Although it may not look like it, we delve more deeply into areas of the curriculum that can be squeezed out by numeracy and literacy."

Activities such as cooking, model making and school visits are laid on for the pupils – as long as they have been well behaved enough throughout the previous term to deserve such a treat.

Concentrating on geography, history and religious studies, the week was all about learning through having fun.

While year six pupils were visiting the air raid shelter at Clifford Road Primary School in Ipswich as part of their studies of the Second World War, other children were being creative in the classroom.

Year five pupils were busy designing and making their own musical instruments out of wood and other junk they had collected. Once finished they then had to compose a tune to be performed to the other children at the end of the week. Caretaker, Raymond Mann, affectionately known as Jim, brought in his tools and was on hand to help the children bring their designs to life.

"It is important try and involve the whole community," Mr Jude said as he helped a boy in Year 3 saw wood to make a self-propelled mouse.

In the past a Sports Week included visits to a bowling club and talks from Ipswich Harriers Athletic club and a Science Week took the children on a visit to the Science Museum in London.

Mrs Jane O'Donnell, PE co-ordinator, said: "There are a lot less arguments during these weeks and the children seem to relax before the end of term."

Other years were decorating eggs and making gifts of photograph frames and cakes for Easter as well as listening to Easter stories and making model shoes.