Pupils at a primary school in Oxfordshire were thrilled to hold a host of reptiles brought to them by a nearby college.

Year 5 and 6 pupils at Wootton St Peter’s CE Primary School were treated to a visit by Radley College science department’s animal collection, alongside a lesson delivered by Radley College biologist Michael Noone.

Herald Series: Wootton St Peter’s CE Primary School pupils with a snake

The children got to hold and observe a python, a hedgehog and a bearded lizard, the latter of which was rescued from Abingdon town centre a few years ago.

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Carina Phillips, deputy head and Year 5 and 6 teacher at the primary school, said: “The kids absolutely loved it. It was really nice.

“Some who were apprehensive at first were holding one of the snakes by the end of the lesson, and it was great to some of the shyer children coming out of their shells.

Herald Series: Wootton St Peter’s CE Primary School pupil holding a bearded dragon

“Our science topic this term is ‘animals and their habitats’ and Mr Noone was fantastic at teaching the children about the different reptiles; why snakes are different colours and how they defend themselves in the wild.”

Miss Phillips said the children were still so inspired and talking about the animals the next day during her maths lesson, that she stopped the lesson and taught biology instead.

One Year 6 pupil said: “I felt exhilarated by the amazing range of animals, I felt like the whole jungle had come to me.”

 

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This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1