CHILDREN at St Barnabas CEVC Primary School in St Paul's have turned into merry men and women – complete with bows and arrows.

The Year 5 pupils have been taking part in a three-week writing topic about Robin Hood.

The nine and ten-year-olds wandered through the woods in their inner-city school grounds then learned the basics of archery from experts at Mendip Outdoor Pursuits Centre.

It is all part of a project at the school in which staff have been working with Pie Corbett, a writing specialist, who encourages creative activities and talk about writing.

Class teacher Alison Camp said: "The whole idea is to get them writing about something they have experienced.

"There is only so much you can do with role play and classroom activities – this is designed to really make them feel like Robin Hood before they go on this week to write their own legend on the same theme."

Head teacher Claire Waters said: The Talk for Writing project has inspired both teachers and children. I think I can safely say we are on target to achieve impressive results in writing this year."