LIFE on the home front in the Second World War has become very real for the pupils at one York primary thanks to the handy work of the school’s site manager.

Gary Stoner, who looks after Park Grove School in The Groves has built an air raid shelter in the school library big enough to fit a whole class inside.

Key Stage 2 pupils are studying the Second World War this term and to enhance pupils’ learning Mr Stoner built the shelter so that all those in that age group could have their history lessons huddled on the benches to give them a better understanding of how people had to leave their homes and seek shelter when the bombs were raining down outside.

The construction uses aluminium sheets which are white on the outside and have a brick design on the inside to simulate the real thing and the youngsters have decorated the outside just as many real life garden shelters were in the blitz.

As part of the project the children were set a homework task to find out more about people who lived through the war and could interview someone if they wished.

The school said that this produced homework of a very high standard - with one interview recorded as a podcast and the school hopes that the next step could be a visit to Eden Camp next term.

In addition a parent is bringing a propeller from a spitfire so all the classes can see it.

The pupils are clearly very grateful for all the effort, one said: “Mr Stoner is so amazing and kind for building KS2 an air-raid shelter. We have had a lot of fun inside the shelter and as it’s so realistic, it’s really helped our learning.”

Another said: “I really enjoyed my air raid experience and it felt like I was back in the war.

“Mr Stoner did an amazing job. I thought it was really exciting when the siren went off.”

It’s not just pupils who have used the shelter, many parents have been into school to see it at the end of the day because the children have gone home talking about it.

Assistant head teacher, Natalie Martin, said: “The children have really loved immersing themselves in the topic and getting a real feel for how things were.

“We have a really lovely space in the library and this is just one of Mr Stoner’s creations, he is always involved in making something for us.

“In the end all the children in school will have used the shelter as even the younger ones in Key Stage 1 have been using it for quiet reading.”

As previously reported in The Press, Park Grove School will soon be joining the Ebor Academy Trust after the governors voted in December for it to become an academy.