Aircraft crash lands in Highgate primary school playground

Children at a Highgate primary school were astounded to see that an aircraft had crashed in their playground as they arrived for lessons last week.

Luckily, no-one was injured because the incident had been mocked up by parents and teachers with the aim of inspiring pupils to write during Book Week at St Michael’s School in North Road.

Children across all year groups have now begun a writing project based around the crash.

It is the first time the school has ever organised such an event but English co-ordinator Rebecca Austin, who thought up the idea, thinks it has been a great success.

The Crouch End resident said: “We wanted to do something to inspire them to write and not just dress up on the Friday.

“You always hear of initiatives to get children into reading but you never hear of writing initiatives. It is something I am quite passionate about.”

Year 6 children, aged 10 and 11, had to write and film a news report investigating the crash while Year 3 pupils, aged seven and eight, created posters to try to track down the pilot.

A caretaker dramatically interrupted morning assembly to tell the headteacher of the crash.

Shrieks of excitement have filled the playground ever since with many children still wondering what the cause of the crash could have been.

Children have also been cracking a code on the side of the aircraft using logic puzzles and mathematics.