Students have lessons in a castle after their school floods

After a long summer, lots of students have returned to their schools and classrooms as the new term begins.

However, for students at one school in Exeter, their learning environment looks a little different this year.

Lessons for pupils at Kenton Primary School have been moved to a local castle.

It's after their school building suffered damage as a result of flooding back in September 2023.

Powderham Castle was built in the 14th century

The school and its pupils temporarily moved to two different buildings while repair work took place at their usual site, and pupils will now attend Powderham Castle in Exeter for their first term.

Lorraine Curry, who is the executive head of the school, said it had been "an amazing experience so far".

Ms Curry had gone to the Earl of Devon, Charles Courtenay, who lives in the castle, to see if he could help the school out, and he offered them a space to use.

"The children love it. It feels quite surreal coming to school down the drive, past the deer park and into the castle," said the executive head.

"It has been an amazing experience so far."

The pupils enjoy having a big playground at the castle

"I love it. It's really nice and I like that we've moved to a castle. It's really exciting," said one nine-year-old student.

"I like that we have a big playground, it's really fun to run around."

Students at Kenton Primary had to leave their school building after it was damaged from flooding in 2023

Ms Curry said the students won't be returning to their old school building, which is more than 200 years old, because of a risk of flooding.

Instead, money has been given to the school by the government for a brand new building for the pupils.

"We've been really lucky to have funding from the government to build a new school in the village. It's brilliant news for us," she said.

After the first term, the children will move to buildings on playing fields in Kenton until the new school is built.