GRANDPARENTS went back to school as part of a new initiative at an Oxfordshire primary school.

Pupils at Appleton CofE Primary School, in Appleton, had their grandparents in class with them as part of a scheme to get them more involved with their education.

Headteacher Mary Watts, the brains behind the project, said there had been a massive response from grandparents - so much so that they will be invited back to help out with everything from storytelling to giving talks.

She said: "Grandparents have all said they felt it was an excellent idea. The ultimate goal has been to make them more aware and more involved in their grandchild's education.

"They are really interested to see what schools are like today, as many of them haven't been in a classroom since their children were young.

"They have been helping in the classes, not just observing but taking part and having an active role. This scheme is all about showing what an untapped resource grandparents are."

Mrs Watts said the response had been so great for the idea - thought to be the first of its kind in the county - that time slots had to be allocated to eager grandparents who wanted to get involved.

She said: "We had more than 80 grandparents contact us - and because so many wanted to come along we had to limit the time they can stay.

"In some cases they stayed a couple of hours, but in others they have stayed the whole morning."

Grandparents from as far afield as Wales and Coventry joined activities at the school, taking part in classes and even getting involved in the school's Wake Up, Shake Up morning aerobics class.

Jack Gordon, 63, from Appleton, was visiting his two grandchildren Isabella Gordon-Roach, nine, and William, seven. He said the scheme was a fantastic idea.

He said: "It's good for grandparents to get involved and it's good for our grandchildren as well.

"I feel more schools should encourage grandparents to get involved in their grandchildren's education as we are an invaluable resource."

Dr Gordon said schools today were utterly different than they had been in his day.

He said: "With computers and interactive whiteboards it's moved on a lot from the blackboards and chalk, and desks with ink wells that I had."

Isabella enjoyed having her grandfather in her classes for the day.

She said: "I think it's a really good idea, because they can see what we are doing and how much we've progressed. I'd like him to come in more often."