If anyone has any doubts about the quality of primary education in the Forest, or the commitment and dedication of teachers and other staff members, they should have been at Lydney Town Hall last Wednesday or Thursday.

These were the evenings when  the pantomime, 'Peter Pan' was staged  by pupils of Pillowell and Blakeney schools. Perhaps the panto should have been called Peterelladin, as the cast included Ugly Sisters and Widow Twankey as well as the traditional parts for PP.

The whole show had been put together, rehearsed and polished in less than a week, but those watching would never have known that until told. Songs had to be learned by the singers; choreography had to be invented and then learned by the dancers; lines and actions learned by the actors. In addition the backdrops had to be painted; posters designed and printed as well as the programmes.

Parents got involved, too. There was a great deal of sewing to be done for costumes and other props. Many a set of redundant curtains found a new, if fleeting, life on stage. Make-up artists were recruited from people who never ever applied even lipstick before this; and so on.

All classes, from the Reception class upwards, were involved at some point. As well as those on stage, a lot of the infrastructure work was carried out by the pupils. My own 8-year-old granddaughter was on the publicity team, which included designing programmes and posters and then selling the former. The ice-cream sellers, too, were all of tender age, but they and the programme sellers had no problem in giving the right change.

As someone who is involved in entertaining audiences with a male voice choir, I can appreciate the great feeling that taking part in such a presentation gives to all participants.

The team spirit that ensues cannot be bought and the confidence which participation gives is worth more than lectures.

Mr Brett Stevenson, the headmaster of both schools which are federated, and his staff, are to be heartily congratulated, not only on a wonderful evening's entertainment, but on the tangible demonstration of the importance of what may be described as informal education.

The children thought that they were having fun, which they were, of course, but they were also undergoing education  of a first rate kind, without realising it.

– George Hiscocks, Chepstow.