It’s not often that pupils get to smash up all their hard work, and even more rare that they get to eat it.

Saffron Walden Reporter: Pupils at Katherine Semar Infant School smash up the gingerbread scenePupils at Katherine Semar Infant School smash up the gingerbread scene (Image: Archant)

But that’s exactly what happened to Year 1 children at Katherine Semar Infant School on Monday (February 8), when they knocked down the gingerbread scene they had spent all week making.

The project was linked in with the pupils’ ‘Once Upon a Time’ topic, and more than £200 worth of sweets were used to shape the houses and paths.

Armed with rolling pins, the children took on the fairy tale scene and after destruction, the whole school was treated to a little bit of gingerbread to take home.

Parent Catherine Kelly, who organised the project, said: “There are lots of key skills involved with the project. Things like Maths, for weighing and counting the sweets, Art, and I even did the history of the gingerbread house to start with.

Saffron Walden Reporter: Pupils at Katherine Semar Infant School smash up the gingerbread scenePupils at Katherine Semar Infant School smash up the gingerbread scene (Image: Archant)

“It is the fifth year I have done it at Katherine Semar and my ninth altogether after I previously used to do it at Whittlesford, where my eldest child went.

“The children enjoy it, and obviously get their rewards after we smash it up.”

Sharon Bear, office manager at the school, said: “Catherine gives up a lot of her time each year for this amazing project and was assisted by other volunteer parents.

“Our thanks also go to B & R Carpets, Kevin Henry, Ridgeons, Tesco, Nisa and The Great Cake Warehouse for their donations of supplies and sponsorship.”