IT IS brave teacher who gets a cast of 50 primary schoolchildren to stage an all-singing, all-dancing production of The Wizard of Oz.

But, with the help of colleagues, the school’s art and drama coordinator Lynsey Jones has taken on the challenge to stage a three-night run at the beginning of April.

The Year One and Year Two teacher, who has taught at the school for six years, said: “What I love about North Kidlington is that it is a very dynamic school, and a place that never says no.

“When it comes to a production like The Wizard of Oz, there is a community of parents involved doing costumes and make-up, or helping with the backdrop.

“We have teaching assistants helping out and making the props.

“It takes a lot of extra work, and I’m doing it all with my colleague Pollyanna Smith.

“It is taking up four or five lunch times a week, as well as the after-school drama club.

“We have always staged a big production at Easter, and it is the children’s faces at the end of the production that makes it so worthwhile.

“We take Year Six out, because it could affect their Sats, but they then put on an end-of-year production.

“The kids are brilliant here – they will try anything.”

Mrs Jones’ responsibilities also include running an after-school art club, and overseeing all of the school’s ICT work.

Headteacher Ann Battersby said: “Lynsey is very creative, highly organised, and has embraced the creative curriculum.

“The productions the children put on here are just amazing.”