TRADITION was upheld at Frome Valley School as pupils and staff celebrated May Day.

Maypole and country dancing was enjoyed by all as part of an annual event to maintain tradition at the rural school in Crossways near Dorchester.

Year Four children completed two dances around the maypole while the rest of the school took part in traditional country dancing.

The maypole dancers each held a coloured ribbon attached to the pole before the dance plaited them together.

After dancing the day away parents joined their children to finish off the celebrations.

Acting deputy headteacher and Year Two teacher Michelle Carter said: “The whole school got involved – each class got to dance and later parents joined their children.

“We are quite a small rural school so we find it really important to maintain our traditions. We do it every year and it is always a great success.

“Year Four danced around the maypole – all other classes took part in traditional country dancing.

“It was a really great day.”

Year Four pupils Faith Solly, nine, and Adam Barnes, also nine, were chosen to represent the school on the day as May King and Queen.

Children submitted anonymous letters to their teachers to apply for the roles before the event.

Miss Carter added: “It was a really tough choice but we chose Faith and Adam and they were really excited.

“We even went as far as to have attendants for the Queen and they were Emma Carpenter and Lia Lewis-Swift.”

Faith said: “I was so excited to be the May Queen it was really fun and I got to help out through the whole event.”

Year Three pupil Sophia Botta, eight, said: “Our year got to make up our own dance. I really enjoyed dancing the Full Circle routine and the Cumberland Reel.

“It was so much fun to watch the maypole dancing.”

Key facts

• FROME Valley School changed its name from Owermoigne School six years ago when it moved to new premises in the village of Crossways.

• It has 100 pupils aged between four and nine and was rated ‘outstanding’ in its last Ofsted report.

• Like many schools, it is a member of Dorset’s Healthy Schools Scheme and is also a Rights Respecting school and a member of the Dorchester Area Schools Pyramid.

• The school has close links with the local community and children enjoy a number of extracurricular activities.