A school nestled between a pair of world-renowned studios received help from a couple of experts for its new production.

Pupils at St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School in Borehamwood were joined by BBC Elstree production designers Steve Groves and Linda Conoboy for the school’s Design & Technology week in June

Students are currently preparing for the performance of musical drama, Oliver!, and the BBC crew were on hand to support the children to create a stage set.

This collaboration was an opportunity for the children in years 4 to 6 (aged 9-11) to discuss how scenery and props can help both the show’s cast and the audience feel like they’ve landed in Dickensian London.

The BBC Designers talked about costume and explained how Victorian London streets looked, after which the children produced painted backdrops depicting the smoke-covered buildings they’d learnt about.

Year 5 children made long-stem red roses using intricate bud and petal designs cut from stencils provided by the BBC Designers. For pupils cast as workhouse children in the musical, Year 4 created gruel bowls out of papier-mâché and were taught how to finish them with a wood grain effect using cardboard combs.

Head teacher Teresa McBride said: “With BBC Elstree on our doorstep, there is a great opportunity to help our children understand what goes into making television programmes and how the subjects they learn in class can be applied in the television and film industry.”