Vale Primary's gingerbread houses ready for parents to view

VALE Primary School students were busily building and decorating gingerbread houses after baking the pieces at St Sampson's High School.

Ready for decorating: Vale Primary School pupils, left to right, Isla Frith, Chloe England, Olivia Whitmore, Amelia Fallaize and Ayla Petit, all 10, with their newly-built gingerbread house. (Pictures by Adrian Miller, 28773867)

Pieces were defrosted on Tuesday ready for assembly by 79 year six students across three classrooms.

Chefs from the Rockmount and La Reunion helped prepare the houses for display for families this afternoon.

'They're all excited and have absolutely loved their cooking sessions,' said Year 6 teacher Mrs Watchman.

'It's important they get used to the St Sampson's staff and facilities, as many are moving up there soon. Nick [Boldison-Smith, St Sampson's head of food] came at 8.30am and the chefs at 9.15am to help the year group.'

Rachael Chapman, a chef from The Rockmount, with Wilf Dorrian 10. (28773865)

Rockmount chef Rachael Chapman said: 'I like getting involved. It's nice getting out the kitchens to be part of the community.

'Nick asked if I wanted to be part of it. We built the house bases first and decorated roofs to add later. So far we've done about 10 to 15 houses. By the end I think we'll be professional gingerbread house makers.'

Year 6 have learned about Hansel and Gretel as part of a whole school project on fairytales.

Hands-on involvement strengthens classroom teachings while learning cookery and having fun.

Isla Frith, 10 said: 'Our teachers have helped us make gingerbread and shortbread houses, and we've brought our own sweets and chocolate to decorate them.'

She had decorated her roof with rainbow belts.

'I've tried to make it look like tiles and pillars. I've been eating some of my sweets. My dad's coming to see the display and my gran might be coming.'

Myles Crawshaw, 10 said: 'We went to St Sampson's on Friday and have written our own versions of Hansel and Gretel. I don't like school because it's learning but I like this.'

'I don't like school because it's learning, but I like this,' said Myles Crawshaw 10, of building his gingerbread house. (28773869)

Niall Pipet, 10 said to Myles: 'Technically this is still learning, because you're learning how to cook. I do a bit of baking at home already. I went for a candyland type design with mine.'

Will Dorrian, 10 said: 'Over the last few weeks we've worked on suspense writing. Neil Gaiman wrote a darker version of Hansel and Gretel so we've been changing that. I like the language used and it's more fun because you get to be more descriptive.'