Pupils aged seven to 11 and teachers from Bancroft's School, Woodford Green, form the Olympic rings

Woodford Green school celebrates week of Olympic events

Alistair Kleebauer, Senior reporter Tuesday, June 19, 2012
4:22 PM

A Woodford Green school showed it could rival the Rio Carnival by putting on a drumming display as part of their Olympics week.

Children at Bancroft's School, Woodford Green, perform their Olympics dance

Pupils aged seven to 11 at Bancroft’s School in High Road took part in drumming workshops before performing during an Olympics opening ceremony.

And though it isn’t quite as large as the giant painting of athlete Jessica Ennis which has been placed in a field near Heathrow airport, students provided a great aerial photo opportunity for one of their teachers.

During a closing ceremony on Friday to round off their week, children and staff dressed in different colours to represent the Olympic rings.

Teacher Steve Burton captured their efforts from the school’s sports hall roof.

On June 11, the young pupils had just 30 minutes to practice on a variety of percussion instruments from Africa and South America with help from Marc Cecil of education group Rhythm Connections

They then joined together for a fifteen-minute “carnival-style” performance.

Ahead of this summer’s Olympic Games in Stratford, east London, the school was also visited by BBC athletics commentator Mike Costello.

He talked about his previous Olympics experiences.

Teacher Alex Adams, who organised the week, said: “It meant all the children experienced the Olympics in some way, right the way across the curriculum, with the staff teaching specially adapted lessons to encompass the Olympics.

“One of the highlights was the song which was specially composed for us: the children loved singing it.”

Pupils learnt about topics including the Paralympics and the Ancient Games.

The Olympic themed song was written by teacher Louis Taylor and was taught to the children over the course of the week along with a special dance incorporating the seven Olympic and Paralympic values.

Year 5 pupil Malini Sachdeva- Masson said: “We had such a brilliant week.

“We will remember it forever.”