Next it is hoped an outdoor stage can be created in the playground at the school.

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The activity-packed breaks have improved behaviour in and out of the classroom, and help keep pupils fit and develop their skills.

"When they go back into class after lunchtime, generally there aren't any problems," said PE activity co-ordinator Elaine Taylor. "They've had a good positive playtime and come away feeling good about themselves."

The innovative playground activities were first introduced a few years ago after there had been problems at lunchtimes.

Mrs Taylor said: "There was lots of falling out and things like that.
"I was a class teacher then, and in an afternoon you'd spend the first half hour dealing with problems.

"I worked out that children spent an average of eight hours a week in the playground – eight hours is a long time to not have anything to do."
Positive

So she asked children what kind of games they would like to play and found many didn't know how to play traditional games like draughts.

Initially the school bought play equipment and split the playground into zones, with nine and 10-year-old children appointed "buddies" to help staff monitor things.

When they moved to the new site, four zones were created with activities like ankle skipping, dressing-up costumes and even a climbing wall.

Other parts of the playground have giant Connect 4 and draughts games, as well as French skipping, and there's a shelter with books. Classes are on a rota with children in different zones each day.

The "buddies" help other children and look after the equipment as well as monitoring other areas around the school.
"We came up with the idea of putting some of the responsibility of the playground back with the children," Mrs Taylor said.

As with a real job, pupils have a job description, fill in an application form, get a reference and go for interview.

It's keenly fought – 55 applicants for 36 places recently – and a major honour to be awarded the blue Buddy cap.

One of the buddies, 10-year-old Karla Ryan, said: "If we did not have the equipment, we would just be bored.

"It's good to play with and it's good to see children happy with it."

Nine-year-old Aamina Rehman said she loved the activities on offer.
"Everyone can be themselves and no-one gets hurt," she said. "It's a good place for kids an adults to be in."