CHILDREN at a Weymouth primary school have been making a cultural change based around the Olympic values.

Pupils at Wyke Regis Junior School have completed five challenges over five weeks to try to make a difference.

Maria Blackwood, a teacher at the school who has been tasked with bringing the spirit of the Games into the classroom, said: “The children have all been really enthusiastic.

“It’s great to see them making a difference and making an effort to keep up the good work.”

Children were given coloured wrist bands for each challenge completed, including health, physical, learning, environmental, community and cultural.

One boy spent time picking up litter in his street, and a girl made a stew for her family.

Another girl spent her half-term fetching milk and doing chores for an elderly woman in her street.

Mrs Blackwood added: “If they can all continue to have a positive impact, then it’s been worthwhile.”

Children were inspired to choose the challenges based on ideas on the Team Dorset Challenge website.

The project, managed and funded by Dorset County Council, NHS Dorset and Active Dorset, aims to inspire people to lead healthier lives and create a cultural legacy from the Olympics.

But the pupils decided on their own themes for their individual challenges.

Team Dorset Challenge co-ordinator Vikki Harman said: “The idea is for people to make a positive, permanent change, and it’s great to see how children have taken to it.

“If each and every one of them takes a small step, then together they can make a huge impact.”

She added: “These children are the basis of our future society, and hopefully, if they understand they can make a difference by a small change, they will continue to enjoy getting involved in their community when they are older.

“I am now hoping to develop this programme even further. It has such a lot of potential.”

Mrs Blackwood said: “It’s so important for the children to know what is happening on their doorstep.

“Having the sailing events here will bring so many opportunities to get involved.”