Younger generation learn how to enjoy a right royal knees-up

CLASSROOMS and corridors were decked out in reams of bunting as pupils showed off their patriotic side.

Schools across Bristol staged parties on the final day of term to celebrate the Queen's diamond jubilee.

Youngsters and teachers donned fancy dress, tucked into specially-prepared royal lunches and enjoyed a sing-song during the festivities on Friday.

Students dressed up in red, white and blue at John Cabot Academy in Kingswood. Staff dressed up as royals and the pupils were challenged to guess who they were.

There was a "street party" at lunchtime on the tennis courts, where all 1,000 students enjoyed a meal of fish and chips followed by jubilee-themed cup cakes.

All money raised will be donated to the Prince's Trust charity.

The school's assistant principal Linda Culling, who organised this event, said: "The students really entered into the spirit of the day and enjoyed the celebrations immensely.

"It is important that we bring national celebrations such as this into the academy and discuss the historical factors that surround them to educate our students in an engaging way."

Pupils from a primary school in St George marched to Troopers Hill.

Every child from Air Balloon Primary School embarked on the walk to the beauty spot and wildlife haven.

They organised the event to re-enact the same march undertaken on Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee in 1897 by pupils at the school's predecessor school in Crew's Hole.

Following the march, the pupils enjoyed a 1950s style lunch before singing 1950s songs and dancing in the playground.

A head teacher dressed as the Queen and brought her pet corgi into school.

Sarah Allen, head at Whitehall Primary, looked the part alongside her pet dog Hester at the school's fancy dress party.

Children, parents and staff at the school in Johnson's Road enjoyed a tea party. As they tucked into their picnic, party guests sat back and relaxed to 1950s-inspired music performed by the school choir.

Some 410 unique pieces of bunting, each one hand-decorated by a child at the school, adorned the playground for the event.

The event was a joint venture between the school and the Friends of Whitehall, a voluntary group made up of parents and members of the local community.

Queen Elizabeth's Hospital School marked the diamond jubilee of its patron in spectacular style – with pupils forming a huge ER 60 in the school yard.

A card containing a photograph of the students at the independent boys' school in Clifton will be sent to the Queen, who became the school's patron in 1984.

Pupils enjoyed a jubilee lunch in the presence of staff dressed up as members of the royal household.

They were also presented with unique minted medallions to celebrate the royal heritage of the school, which has a royal charter from Queen Elizabeth I dating back to 1586.

Some of the celebratory activities in the afternoon were based on the original programme of festivities for the school's celebration of the Queen's coronation.

School spokesman Andrew Lewis-Barned said: "The idea of the day was to combine a memorable celebration of the event with some fun, and also to give boys a greater awareness of the life of the Queen and the royal family and the role that they play."

A nursery in Hengrove was transformed into a palace.

Children at Mama Bear's day nursery in Wells Road enjoyed a party at lunchtime.

Youngsters made their own invitations and decorations, and helped convert the garden into a "street party".

Jo Newman, the nursery's manager, said: "We put lots of effort into our preparations for our jubilee party, even asking a carpet shop for some spare red carpet to make our grand walkway."