Pebsham School web goes live

Fluttering birds accompany the "Flying high at Pebsham CC" slogan across the top of the home page of a web in which every one of the 250 pupils - plus last year's Year 6 - have played an active part.

For pupils and staff - especially Year 6 teacher and IT specialist Paul Girdardot - last Friday afternoon's ceremony was a moment of achievement.

Head teacher Pat Strickson and her team had invited parents and governors in before the close of school last Friday to witness the launch of www.pebshamcp.co.uk and School Council members had offered conducted tours of classrooms where computers were in action.

Mr Girdardot told the Observer: "We started this before the summer. Last year's Year 6 had a lot of input into it.

"We were talking to them about developing a school website.

"They looked at other schools' websites and what they thought would be nice to put on ours.

"Year 6 worked with Ryan Kelly, our web-designer, and he worked with the children on this, gradually building over the summer and this term we have looked at it and got it down to what we have now.

"We have got an introduction to the school plus areas where the children's work is displayed.

"We have displayed all the children's classes, from the youngest to the oldest.

"We have pictures of the school's visits.

"There is a map to find the school.

"We have an area for (computer) games to encourage the children to use it and we have other games in there which we hope to build on - educational games.

"There is general information about the school plus newsletters and communications with parents and pupils."

Commenting on the collaborative process, he said: "I think everyone has been really enthusiastic. The children have enjoyed having an input and being able to have ownership of the website."