BLUE skies were streaked with plumes of red and white as the RAF Falcons made a dramatic entrance into Heyford Park Free School.

Children at the all-through school near Bicester craned their necks as the premier military parachute display team, based at RAF Brize Norton, landed in their field last week.

Pupils' families, cadets and military veterans from the area joined them for the spectacle on Friday, June 21, and a picnic lunch.

The Heyford and Bicester veterans were hosted by cadets in the school, organised by Year 11 student Adam Lindsay, and the Falcons met with pupils afterwards to answer questions.

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Heyford Park's principal Karen Healey said: "This amazing opportunity not only allowed our children to see the amazing work the forces do and the skill of the Falcons, but also allowed us to show children that if you have a dream you can achieve it.

"The history of the parachute regiment and the mathematical knowledge used in their day to day work allowed our children to understand the relevance of what they learn in the classroom."

During the morning, older students learned how the parachutists use the mathematics to manage the drop and ensure their safety.

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A member of the squadron also talked to students from Year 5, 6 and 7 about the history and work of the parachute team, along with their links with Heyford Park.

Sergeant Brook Stebbings, a first year Falcon, said: "It was a privilege to display at Heyford Free School - we have a strong connection with the school and Upper Heyford.

"RAF Upper Heyford was an RAF station located near the village of Upper Heyford, where No. 1 Parachute Training School was based between 1946 to 1950, now based at RAF Brize Norton, the home of the RAF Falcons too.

"We’d like to thank the school children for their warm reception and for the hard work they put into their STEM projects."