A notorious storybook troublemaker was finally brought to justice this week after police were called in to investigate a series of messy crimes at St Francis Primary School in Ventnor.
Reception pupils had been reading Naughty Bus, a tale about a bus with a serious talent for getting into trouble. But when children arrived each morning to find their classroom in a suspicious state, it quickly became clear that mischief had followed the book into real life.
With ‘evidence’ piling up, the class did the only sensible thing – they called the police.
Officers PC Downing and PC Flexman arrived on the scene to examine the clues, before formally reading Naughty Bus his rights and placing him under arrest for criminal damage, much to the delight of his young accusers.
Once the culprit was safely dealt with, the officers switched roles from detectives to teachers, explaining what it’s really like to be a police officer and answering a barrage of excellent questions.
Pupils were given the chance to handle real handcuffs and a baton, and to try on some impressively heavy police jackets and hats. The class quickly spotted similarities between the protective vests and combat gear they had explored during Remembrance Day – both designed to keep vital organs safe.
High-visibility jackets were also demonstrated, with officers explaining how they help keep police visible at night, along with a selection of headwear including the traditional custodian helmet, which proved to be far heavier than it looks.
The visit even prompted some big thinking, with pupils learning that while only men could once join the police, today men and women serve equally – a link neatly made to their previous learning about aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart.
To round things off, officers explained the different vehicles police use, including drones that provide a bird’s-eye view of hard-to-reach places – a concept pupils were keen to explore further on their tablets later in the day.
The children thoroughly enjoyed the visit and loved learning from real-life experts, proving that sometimes the best lessons start with a very naughty bus.
A huge thank you was given to PC Downing and PC Flexman for an unforgettable visit – and for restoring order to Reception Class.
