PUPILS who enjoy lessons in a decommissioned aeroplane have been thinking up ways to make classes even more unique.

Children at Kingsland Primary School, in Bucknall, love learning in the 60-foot plane which is stationed in its grounds and want to make even more use of it during the warmer months.

The school wants to buy a canopy to attach to the plane so that children can be sheltered from the elements.

Pupils are also keen to add a covered walkway from the school entrance to the plane and a check-in desk to heighten their role-play experience.

The S-360 aircraft, which used to fly businessmen to Ireland and Spain, was saved from a scrapyard and has been converted into a classroom featuring laptops, white boards and foldaway desks.

Father Christmas was even due to make use of the plane today as part of a visit to the school.

Headteacher David Lawrence said: "We want to get a canopy to extend the learning space.

"It would be fixed to the wing, could be pulled out and would be attached to poles.

"We also want a tunnel from the school entrance to the plane, like they have at airports and a check-in desk where pupils can get their own passports stamped."

The school would issue students with special passports which could be stamped upon the completion of work and a prize would be awarded once a child filled their book.

Now the school is entering The Sentinel and Barclays' Class Act competition in the hope that a £5,000 prize will help their plans take off.

Pupils who have spent the term learning how to put together presentations, experimenting with green screen technology and drawing their own comics on laptops, were enthusiastic about the idea.

Emma Smith, aged 10, from Bucknall, said: "People can go there if they want to be quiet and not be disturbed. You could work or play or read there, it'd be good fun."

Megan Owen, aged 10, from Bucknall, said: "We are planning on getting a canopy so when it's warm we can do guided reading, maths and literacy out there.

"Mr Lawrence has ordered passports for us and every time we learn something we can get a stamp on them. I love the plane, I think it's an amazing opportunity to learn."

Danielle Glover, aged 10, from Bucknall, said: "I think it's really good because we can use the extra space to learn in our spare time and quiet time.

"If you're lonely you could come here and then people would come and play with you.

"We can sit under it to do work and drawing and stuff and it will protect us from the sun.

"The passports are a really good idea so we know what we've done and what we haven't."