PUPILS could soon be flying high in lessons under plans to install a real-life plane in their school grounds.

Children and teachers from Kingsland Primary, in Bucknall, want to kit out a 40-seater aircraft as a classroom and use it as an exciting backdrop for geography, science, maths and literacy topics.

The school has already been picking up tips from a top designer, who helped create customised Lear jets for Lewis Hamilton and David and Victoria Beckham.

Now staff have found a specialist company selling a decommissioned short S-360 aircraft, which was previously used for commercial flights to Ireland and Spain.

The 'King's Wings' project all hinges on winning planning permission from Stoke-on-Trent City Council. But if planners approve it, the 25-metre long plane could be sited on a small playing field near the front of the school.

Although it wouldn't have an engine, pupils could pretend to fly to exotic destinations and use the experience as inspiration for creative work.

Headteacher David Lawrence said: "When we asked the children what they would like for the learning space, one of them suggested an aircraft.

"The geography implications of this are phenomenal. If we said, 'Let's visit the rainforest', we could use technology in the plane to make it look like they were there.

"We have been talking about having a glass viewing panel in the floor, where children could look at a computer image from Google Earth."

Connor Franklin, aged nine, said: "We could stand on Mount Everest or Africa. We could also sit in the seats on the plane and have little touch screen TVs to do our literacy and numeracy work.

"We could have a sign saying 'fasten your seatbelts'."

Other ideas include having a runway-style footpath linking the main school building to the plane. Kingsland is also keen on fitting solar panels to the wings so it can generate power and even use the electricity for computers inside the cabin.

As well as using the plane for classwork, it could become a base for community activities, work with parents, support sessions for pupils, and for a small school recording studio.

Sian Frasier, aged 11, said: "It would be fantastic. We would be the first school in the whole world to have a plane in the grounds."

If the project takes off, pupils plan to invite a celebrity to officially open the plane. Time travel specialist Dr Who, aka David Tennant, is at the top of their list.

The site, just behind Werrington Road, is on a grassy slope and is unlikely to be visible to passing motorists.

Mr Lawrence said: "It can be seen by a few homes on the other side of the road, although only from their bedroom windows.

"If it's an issue, the site could be sunk a bit. We are also looking at landscaping to stop it being obtrusive.

"The children will be going to talk to residents about it."

The company selling the aircraft, Shropshire-based Retro Aviation, is currently advertising a fully-fitted S-360 for £35,000. But Kingsland would cover most of the costs through sponsorship.

The firm says its customers range from museums to film production companies.