Children at Combe Primary School firebranded tree stumps as part of a new curriculum introduced by the school’s headteacher.

The curriculum at the school, near Woodstock, is called Curiosity, Creativity and Challenge and sees all pupils take part in classroom learning each morning and then turn to real world issues such as sustainability or the refugee crisis in the afternoon.

Charlie Marshall, Combe Primary School Head Teacher, said: “A lot of schools focus on the negatives of deforestation so we decided to look at the positive side and learn about the journey of a tree through its life and now we have taken it further and made some of our old trees which had to be cut down into benches.”

On Friday, the children helped to use firebranders to permanently engrave the school's behaviour guide onto the tree stumps of the old trees.

Sayings such as ‘be honest’, ‘be respectful’ and ‘learn from your mistakes’ were burned onto the trees.

National wood culture charity the Sylva Foundation has worked with the primary school to organise the week and aim is to educate people about using British wood and replanting trees sustainably.

Jen Hurst, Sylva Foundation education manager, said: “We believe if children have a positive experience with the environment from an early age they will grow up motivated to work with the environment or be more sustainable.

“We want children to be hands on and learn first-hand why we need to protect our forestry.”