Schools kept in dark about Queen's visit

Schools started to receive their letters from Chippenham Town Council on Thursday inviting pupils and staff to grab a flag, line the streets and welcome the Queen and Prince Philip to the town.

The royal couple are expected to walk through the town centre to the town hall where the Queen will sign the visitors' book.

Some schools have other plans and others were unaware an alternative date had been set for the royal visit. The Queen and Prince Philip were due to be in North Wiltshire on March 16 but because of the foot and mouth crisis the visit was cancelled.

Laurie Brown, Chippenham Town Council clerk, said the letters had not been sent out until the visit schedule had been confirmed.

"Everyone knew the Queen was coming on December 7. We obviously couldn't send out any letters because we didn't know what was happening or when," said Mr Brown.

At least two schools, St Paul's School in The Oaks and Kings Lodge Primary School, are holding their annual nativity plays on December 7.

Jane Ratcliff, head teacher at Kings Lodge said the school had thought about doing something back in March, but since that visit had been cancelled they continued to organise school activities to the end of the year.

"We hadn't heard anything about the date being changed so have carried on with the arrangements for the infant nativity play for that same day. It is a shame really but the school will be operating as normal," she said.

Redland School headteacher Hilary Etherington said she did not think she was the only one not to know the rearranged date for the visit.

Mrs Etherington's pupils are in the middle of play and concert rehearsals, end of term assessments and pushing to complete the curriculum.

"We are so pushed for time there is no way we will be able to take any time out to line the streets and wave flags. We have a curriculum to complete," said Mrs Etherington.

A spokesman at St Peter's Primary School said the school had received a letter weeks in advance of the original visit back in March, but had heard nothing in the period leading up to next week's event.

Pupils from Monkton Park School and St Mary's Roman Catholic Primacy School may be the only two schools in the town participating.

Kim Parnell, acting head teacher, has written to parents giving permission for them to take their children out of school for the day.

"We have left it up to the parents. Many want to go off to Malmesbury to see the Queen because they have more of a chance of seeing her,"she said.

Monkton Park Primary School has not abandoned its lessons for the day but intends to incorporate a quick trip into town within the school day.

The town council is hoping for a big turnout. Mr Brown said: "We want to see as many as possible lining the street. This is the first official visit of a monarch in 100 years and I would hope the schools let their pupils come into town."

He said it was disappointing that some of the schools had not kept in touch with events and hoped that the news would have been spread through school representatives and during regular meetings between primary head teachers.

FIVE-year-old Jenna Pearce is getting ready for the Royal visit next Friday.

Jenna, niece of Chippenham railway station manager Lynn Edginton, will be handing over a posy to the Queen when she arrives at the station at 11am.

The Queen and Prince Philip will be met from the train by the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Sir Maurice Johnston, and he will introduce the royal couple to MP James Gray, Chippenham mayor Barbie Dawson and a number of other dignitaries including Coun Brian Atfield, chairman of North Wiltshire District Council and Coun Julian Johnson, chairman of Wiltshire County Council.

St Mary's School in Chippenham has written to parents giving permission for them to take their children out of school for the day.

Acting headteacher Kim Parnell said lots of parents had decided to take the school up on its offer.

"There may be some children in school. All staff will be," said Ms Parnell.

Abbeyfields School, which will be officially opened by Prince Phillip, has invited families of the students to join the royal celebrations.

For the majority of other schools in the town it will be business as usual in the classroom.

This will be the third time The Lord Lieutenant has welcomed the Queen to the county during his time in office.

"We are thrilled to bits. We are hoping for big crowds on the day and that as many people as possible will be there cheering. It will be a wonderful occasion," said Sir Maurice.

If it is not raining, the Queen will greet people at the station after she arrives. There will be other opportunities for people to see her, including Chippenham High Street, in Calne town centre when she opens the new library, and in Malmesbury between the town hall and Abbey, before the special jubilee service.

The schedule is almost complete and details are now being distributed to organisations and individuals in the three towns.

Sir Maurice said: "This is one of the closest royal visits to the Queen's anniversary of her actual ascension on February 6, 50 years ago."

The plans will allow the Queen at least 15 minutes before and after lunch at Malmesbury Town Hall to take a rest from the busy schedule.