A FRENCH flag took over the playground of one Pontypool school this week when pupils welcomed staff from a French school.

Griffithstown Primary School welcomed staff from Amiens in France as part of Comenius Week.

This special week, from May 2-9, celebrates the work of schools taking part in the Comenius Programme.

This is an European Union scheme which creates partnerships between schools across Europe to help improve education standards.

Griffithstown Primary School has been working with two schools from the Somme region of France, Ecole Saint Germain, Amiens, and Ecole Primaire d’Authie, and the Karl Nahrgang Schule, which is on the outskirts of Frankfurt.

Staff and pupils at the Grifftithstown school celebrated the week by learning about European traditions and culture, speaking French and even creating a French flag with the pupils dressed in red, white and blue.

They also enjoyed a typical French breakfast which included croissants and pain au chocolat.

Deputy headteacher Anne McGhee said: “The Comenius programme has allowed our school to build trust and understanding between different cultures, broaden pupils’ horizons and bring languages and other subjects to life in the classroom.”