A primary school has come up with a novel way to create extra classroom space – teaching lessons in a decommissioned commercial aeroplane.
Pupils at Kingsland Primary School, in Bucknall, Stoke-on-Trent, checked in for class in the aircraft for the first time yesterday.
The winged classroom, a refurbished Short S-360, is believed to be the first of its kind in the world. Since its arrival at the school in March, the airliner has been transformed into a flexible teaching space, fitted with interactive whiteboards and laptops and complete with pull-down numbered seats and desks.
Headteacher David Lawrence said staff at the school had invited pupils to offer ideas for a new outdoor classroom. An aircraft was one of many quirky suggestions, with a tree-house and a castle amongst others.
Pupils were also involved in the interior design of the aircraft, in a project dubbed “The King’s Wings” by the school.
The 72ft (22m) long aircraft was lowered into position in the school grounds by a crane.
