Schoolchildren investigate 'UFO crash'

12:00pm Tuesday 28th October 2008

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ARE we alone in the universe? There have been many sightings and reports of close encounters with flying saucers and beings from another world - Tunguska, Russia in 1908, Roswell, New Mexico in 1947. In 1980 Britain had its own close encounter in Rendlesham Forest.

Hazlemere Church Of England Primary School, Amersham Road, Hazlemere created its own X-Files on Friday.

Schoolchildren turned conspiracy theorists as they arrived with their parents in the morning only to discover their field had turned into a mysterious crash site, surrounded by police tape.

It was strewn with the silver debris of some kind of craft, the goal posts had been upturned and large purple mushrooms protruded from the grass.

To add to the intrigue, there were policemen and scientists patrolling the scene.

Of course, all was not as it seemed.

The 'crash' had been staged by the school as part of Everybody Writes Day, a project run in partnership by Booktrust, The National Literacy Trust and funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Headteacher Nick Waldron said: “ The reaction of the children and the parents was jaw dropping as they came around the corner and saw the field and a slight wariness.

“There was a buzz of excitement as children talked and speculated about what had happened. It was extremely good fun.”

Teaching assistant Nancy Taylor said: “They were so excited when they arrived, asking lots of questions about what had happened.”

Alice Rhodes, a Bucks New University drama student, who became one of the scientists for the day said: “ The kids came in they were like ' what's going on' and I had to say don't go through the perimeter. They were asking me questions and I said ' at this time I can't divulge any information. Some asked if it was aliens.”

Year 3 pupil Christian D'Eane, 7, was fascinated by the purple mushrooms and thought perhaps a plane had been shot down by a misile.

Children speculated about UFOs, planes, fireworks and some suggested vandalism as a cause.

Mr Waldron said he hoped to spark the pupils' imagination: “The aim is that there excitement will transfer into a some really good writing. We are really focusing on writing this year for our school we want it to be outstanding.

“We truly believe that they will become terrific writers by feeding them with something like this. It's a fantastic opportunity to write about something real.”

After a talk from Midweek reporter James Nadal about news writing, the pupils, whose teachers had still not disclosed the truth of the case, set about writing their own headlines and report.

Later in the day Mr Waldron revealed the truth to the budding writers. The Alien Crash was particularly apt, coming in the week that the MOD released a number of files on UFO sightings.