PUPILS in Calne were plunged into the Victorian Age as they celebrated the school's 150th anniversary with a fancy dress day and Victorian themed events.

The children at Holy Trinity C of E Academy jumped for joy at the hopscotch grid after they donned their tailcoat jackets and maid costumes for the celebrations which started on Monday.

Headteacher Graham Shore said: "The school was built in 1866 so we are celebrating our 150th anniversary and the children will be doing things throughout the year to celebrate.

"All the children dressed up on Monday and so did the staff. They played hopscotch and we have arranged the classrooms into rows and they are learning about punishment and what life was like then as education has changed so much."

To enrich the children's syllabus, the school are introducing guest speakers and teachers to emphasise the Victorian link and on Monday former headteacher of Preshute James Smith presented a special drama workshop for the key stage two pupils.

Mr Shore added: "An anniversary of 150 years does not come around very often in schools and I think it is really special for the children and they thoroughly enjoyed themselves as did the staff although they will not admit that because they had to dress up!"

The pupils will also be having old fashioned sepia tone photographs taken to commemorate the occasion, as well as other organised events during the year such as a church service with the Bishop of Salisbury and a Victorian Christmas dinner.