Jam Tarts and Semolina at Clifford Primary School

Clifford Primary School, near Hay-on-Wye is enjoying a week of special activities dedicated to the school's past, present and future.

On Monday, 12th November the children explored old log books and school plans to see how the building used to look. They undertook a historical who's who of past and present staff and investigated school dinners through the ages, cooking up and tasting some of the old favourites such as jam tarts, semolina and home made biscuits.

Today (Tuesday, 13th November) the children learned about how their school fitted into the universe when they were treated to a session on Victorian astronomy. Later in the day children worked on their very own school tapestry to depict the history of the school, replicating the style and colours of the Bayeux Tapestry.

Historical research into the links between the school is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 14th November when the children will be taken on a church walk. Ex- pupils, parents and staff, including two past head teachers, have been invited to come and talk to the children in the afternoon about what it was like at Clifford School in their day.

The whole school will be dressing up on Thursday as the children experience being either a Victorian, a Second World War evacuee or a child of the future for the day. The school will experience a Victorian Drill, an air raid drill and receive messages from the future.

The week will finish with each class completing their part of the school's tapestry so that it can be put together for the first time in a special whole school assembly on Friday afternoon.

Jeremy Piper, head teacher, said: "The school is in the process of a great amount of redevelopment and refurbishment which has enabled us to become, for the first time in the school's history, a four-class school with a separate Reception class. As we celebrate this expansion, we are also commemorating our 170th birthday by actively researching and experiencing Clifford School's history from its beginnings to the present day, with a little look at what the future may hold."

"The staff have organised a wonderful week of activities and the children have already had a fantastic time finding out about how the school has grown, identifying the original parts of the school, and finding out about how the school, and school-life has changed throughout its history. The staff and children are absolutely buzzing about what they are finding out…"