RAF pilot pays Bushey pupils a visit (From Watford Observer)

RAF Flight Lieutenant Andy Robins pays Bushey Heath Primary School pupils a visit

2:30pm Monday 4th March 2013 in News By Kathryn Snowdon, Reporter

A RAF pilot visited Bushey Heath Primary School last week.

Flight Lieutenant Andy Robins spoke to children for an hour about his role in the RAF and what it was like to manage the Red Arrows.

The visit came after Year 6 pupils wrote a series of letters to their heroes as part of their persuasive writing module.

One of the recipients was Air Chief Marshal Sir Steven Dalton of the RAF, who arranged for Flight Lieutenant Robins to visit the class and talk to the children.

Deputy Head and Year 6 teacher, Penny Barefoot, organised the writing exercise.

Miss Barefoot said: "Quite often when it comes to persuasive writing or storytelling, students think ‘why am I doing this’.

"This really motivates them and they suddenly want to do it because they get something out of it."

Miss Barefoot said, by having pupils write to someone personally, it really helped to engage them further in the writing exercise.

Flight Lieutenant Robins has flown with the Red Arrows and is now serving with 32 (TR) Squadron RAF Northolt.

He presented Headteacher Mr Perrin with a signed picture of a Tornado GR 4 and brought along a selection of badges, mouse mats, posters and stickers for the students to enjoy.

This is the first year the school has sent off the letters children wrote to their heroes, and amongst the replies was one from Her Majesty the Queen.