Pupils scale new heights

Children climbed the equivalent height of Mount Everest in their school hall.

Around 70 pupils at St Michael’s Primary School, Farnsfield, climbed up and down wall bars 22 times each to cover a combined distance close to 8,848 metres (29,028ft) — the height of the world’s highest mountain.

Each child climbed a total of around 126 metres.

Children aged seven to nine from years three and four took part in the challenge as part of a project on life in the mountains.

Money they raised through sponsorship will go towards a trip to a climbing centre in Hucknall.

The deputy head, Mr Steve Coyle, said the trip would be a good way to end the mountain topic.

“We thought it would be nice to take the children to experience climbing on a wall,” he said.

“They have been learning about the geography of mountains and the location of different mountain ranges.

“We’ve also looked at the mountain village of Kumaon in the Himalayas and compared it to Farnsfield.”

Mr Coyle said the children gained confidence each time they climbed up and over the wall bars.

He said: “Some of them were naturally less adventurous than others and got a bit scared at the top of the wall and some wouldn’t climb over and wanted to come down the same side.

“But you could see their confidence increasing and they got faster and faster which was nice to see.”

The trip to Hucknall will take place on March 30.