PRIMARY schoolchildren have been enjoying a summer of fun at Trellech Primary with football games in the lead-up to the World Cup as well as a show modelled on Britain's Got Talent.

Arriving at the school, headteacher Karen Christoffi introduced me to a former professional football player who is helping children understand the game.

The ex Newport County midfielder Andy Beattie told us girls were now just as active on the pitch as boys as the world was gripped by football fever.

The former conference player told me his approach on the pitch was quite informal, training boys and girls to get stuck on the playing fields with activities similar to street football.

He brings a wealth of experience having previously trained the women's national team and played as far afield as Thailand.

Mr Beattie, 56, said: "We have an after school club.

“We try to get them to play games.

“It’s more like street football. We use different rules and try to share the load.

“I used to coach the national girls’ team. Now everybody buys into it.

“This year I will support Brazil or Argentina, the South American teams.

“It is going to be different with the weather. I played football in Thailand for six months.

“It’s a different pace of game. It all slows down."

The children are showing off their skills on and off the pitch with more pupils putting the finishing touches to a school show called Trellech's Got Talent.

More than 40 children performed at the show on June 13 including singing, dancing, music and poetry.

Trellech’s Got Talent is organised with the Parents, Teachers and Friends Association.

Ms Christoffi said: "We started seven years ago.

"It has grown over the years.

"Children have the opportunity to show off their talent.

“Not all of them are academic. This allows them to show skills that perhaps we don’t see every day in school. It builds their confidence.”

PTFA member Leanne Wakerley, 46, added: “The teachers always do a performance. They always bring the house down. They are such good sport. There is a real mix of acts.”

The headteacher introduced us to two other students who have taken part in a film about food with MONTV modelled on the BBC children’s spy adventure series called MI High.

Filming at farms and other locations in the area took place before Easter and the film will be aired at some point in the future.

Millie Edwards, 10, said: “It was really fun. We got to go to lots of places around here.”

Johnny Dunckley, 11, said: “It was a nice trip and we got free ice cream. I learned how far your food has to travel.”

More experts besides Mr Beattie come to the school including the independent consultant Vicky Evans who uses physical literacy to help children.

The pupils also enjoy other outdoor activities going to "Forest School" at the Wet Meadow, a woodland area in the area.

They take part in the weekly sessions identifying trees, listening to the sounds of birds and pond dipping.

Reception teacher Claire Cotton, 38, said: "We're making it fun by going outside the school.

"They see the forest at different times of the year."

Ms Christoffi has been at Trellech School for two years.

She said: "My priority is just building on the good practice started.

"To us the views of the parents and children are important and we want to make sure they are being heard.

“The school has moved forward massively in the last 12 months. We focus very much on raising standards but also on being creative.”

Factfile

Head teacher: Karen Christoffi

Assistant head teachers: Kate Peacock and Dee Miles

Chairman of Governors: Scott Hale

School Motto: Living, learning laughing

In its report published in 2009, Estyn said that Trellech Primary was rapidly improving and a happy school.

There were many good features and a few outstanding ones in the quality of its provision for all learners.

The percentage of lessons achieving grade two or above was in line with the national picture.

Nearly all pupils achieved good standards in their use of the key skills of speaking and listening, reading and writing, numeracy and IT.

All learners achieved good standards in their personal, social, spiritual, moral and cultural development.

Nearly all pupils behaved very well and worked and played happily with their peers.

Good relationships between pupils and staff was a strong feature of the working atmosphere of nearly all classes in the school.

The school made a number of exciting innovations to the curriculum.

There were outstanding features in the quality and variety of extra-curricular activities and in the school's promotion of education for sustainable development and global citizenship and partnerships with parents were excellent.